When encountering an unexpected situation, the first thing to do is 'wait'.
Not to act rashly in panic, but to calmly assess the situation first.
This choice helps avoid the worst-case scenario.
Of course, depending on the outcome, there might be better choices, but at least…
It prevents irreversible mistakes.
So…
"Phew…"
I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
And when I feel like I've regained my composure…
Slowly…
I open my eyes and gather visual information.
"...."
I'm at the entrance of a cave.
At the cave entrance, where light is seeping in, countless soldiers are blocked by a transparent barrier, shouting something.
"——— ——, ————!!"
Like a muted TV, I can't hear them, but their expressions are a mix of urgency and anger.
But the real problem is…
'Damn it.'
I can't see my companions.
And it's not just my companions.
'What is this?'
My equipment is also gone.
The Demon Crusher, the expensive shield I bought, the Royal Guard Sigil, and all the other Numbered Items I was wearing…
Everything has vanished.
And instead…
I'm wearing ragged, worn-out clothes.
And I'm clutching a bone awl, a crude weapon made from monster bones.
That's when I realize.
The real problem is…
'…Is this for real?'
My body feels heavy.
"——, — ———— —!"
Even though all my heavy equipment is gone…
I feel sluggish and weak, as if I'm carrying a heavy burden.
I don't question it. I just record the information.
「All character stats are fixed at 15.」
Information 1: My stats have been reduced.
To the level of an ordinary person, not an explorer.
My powerful body, capable of lifting a carriage, is gone.
And…
「All character essences are sealed.」
Information 2: My skills are sealed.
Ogre, Vol-Herchan, Bion…
All my skills, including the high-grade essences that made me a powerhouse, are deactivated.
'…And my subspace pocket won't open.'
The subspace pocket I obtained from the Rose Knights is also unusable.
"Haa…"
I feel a wave of dizziness, but I force myself to calm down.
New information is being updated.
"Uh… get out… by the imperial law… judgment…"
The transparent barrier that had been blocking the sound starts to weaken, and I can hear the soldiers' shouts.
'Imperial…?'
Their attire looks familiar.
Like the Imperial soldiers I saw in the Doppelganger Forest.
Anyway, to summarize…
"For the Empire…!"
Information 3: They're Imperial soldiers.
"Captain, the barrier is weakening!"
Information 4: The barrier at the entrance is weakening.
"Prepare yourselves! It's time to judge the wicked pilgrim!"
Information 5: I'm a pilgrim.
A traitor to humanity who sided with the Witch during the Witch's War.
"...."
As the information is processed and organized in my mind, I reach a conclusion.
'I'll die if I'm caught.'
I have to run.
______________________
In a five-man or fewer raid,
Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror, drags the characters to a new field when he reaches his 4th phase.
The Bottomless Pit of Solitude.
A sealed room shrouded in darkness.
The players have to fight him in that environment, and he uses much stronger skills than in a normal raid.
His body grows larger, no longer restricted by the cave.
Token monsters swarm the area.
Dangerous AoE attacks and unavoidable skills.
But I wasn't worried about the raid itself.
All his skills had clear countermeasures…
And there was an escape route that could only be used right before the labyrinth closed.
It was a safety net.
But…
'…An unexpected event.'
This kind of situation was common in [Dungeon and Stone].
The game was filled with hidden pieces.
'A hidden piece.'
That must be the reason for this situation.
Information 6: A hidden piece I'm unaware of has been activated.
I quicken my pace.
Thud, thud.
Sweat drips down my face, forming beads that roll down my cheeks and soak my clothes.
Drip—
My body is weak and frail, slightly better than Lee Hansu in the hospital.
"Where is he?! Where did he go?!"
The Imperial soldiers are chasing me.
But I don't despair.
I have faith.
There are no impossible hidden pieces in [Dungeon and Stone].
And as proof…
"He's moving as if he can see through the darkness."
"It must be one of the powers he gained from the wicked Witch."
The soldiers seem to find the cave dark.
But it's bright enough for me, thanks to the glowing crystals.
Information 7: Pilgrims have certain advantages.
Not just increased vision range, but also…
"Gurgle, gurgle!"
…the monsters in the cave.
They don't attack me.
In fact, they seem to be protecting me from the soldiers.
Slash!
Well, they're just buying me time.
If it weren't for them, I would have been captured by now.
"Grrrr—!"
…This feels strange.
I never thought I would be saved by goblins.
Thud, thud.
Of course, my tracking skills also played a significant role in my escape.
And that brings me to the next question.
'What happened to the others…?'
I organized my thoughts as I ran.
The most likely scenario was that they were also separated and started alone, just like me.
This place was similar to the Crystal Cave.
Except for the entrance.
'…If this follows the same pattern, there should be entrances in all four directions.'
The basis for my theory was my starting location.
The area beyond the barrier where the soldiers were gathered was a dense forest.
Like the Goblin Forest.
"He's this way!"
Damn it, I thought I could rest for a moment.
Thud, thud.
I quickly got up and continued running, my mind racing. I couldn't keep running forever.
Survival was a series of decisions.
I had successfully escaped, so it was time for the next decision.
What should I do now?
'Regroup.'
That was the most obvious choice.
There were many events that separated party members. And most of them required regrouping to proceed.
Considering our separate starting locations, it was highly likely that this situation followed the same pattern.
'But… we might all die before we can regroup…'
Erwen would probably be fine.
She had tracking skills.
The problem was Ainar, who had no sense of direction, and Bersil, who was a mage and nothing else.
'…I'll worry about that later.'
I stopped thinking about it.
It wasn't something I could do right now.
I didn't even know how to find them in this vast cave.
There was a more important question.
'What's the clear condition?'
If this was part of Dreadfear's 4th phase, what was the objective?
To kill all the Imperial soldiers?
To reach the monument in the center of the cave?
Or maybe I had to escape the cave?
I had cleared over a hundred rifts and countless hidden pieces, but I couldn't figure this one out.
I didn't have enough information.
'There must be a clue…'
I made my decision.
I had to be more proactive.
Therefore…
Thud.
I stopped running and hid behind a glowing crystal.
It wasn't the best hiding spot, but the soldiers seemed to find the crystals blinding.
It was the perfect place for an ambush.
"…"
I waited.
Step, step.
Three soldiers entered the passage, carrying torches.
'Three…'
It was a manageable number, even in my weakened state.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
My heart pounded in my chest.
Should I attack?
Or should I wait?
I hesitated for a split second.
'…Three is doable.'
I made my decision.
I didn't know how long it would take for a smaller group to appear.
And the Imperial soldiers weren't that strong.
They were probably around the level of 2nd-floor explorers, judging by their performance against the goblins.
Which meant they were just ordinary people who would die if stabbed.
Clench.
I tightened my grip on the bone awl, hidden in the shadows cast by the crystal.
And…
Step.
As the three soldiers passed by my hiding spot…
I silently approached the last one and stabbed him in the neck.
Puk-!
"…Gah!"
The sound echoed through the passage.
Before I could even retrieve my weapon, the other two soldiers turned around.
"…You!"
Their eyes widened in surprise.
I pushed the dead soldier's body towards them and pulled out my awl.
And before they could react…
Puk-!
I stabbed again.
"…Ugh!"
I had aimed for his neck, but the awl only pierced his collarbone.
He was wearing leather armor, and the awl was stuck.
Therefore…
'I'll have to give up on the weapon.'
I let go of the awl and charged at him.
I didn't need a weapon to kill.
Swoosh.
I grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer, pinning his arms behind his back.
I twisted his neck, exposing his throat.
Crack.
And then I bit down with all my might.
If you tore out the jugular vein, they would die instantly.
"T-Trojan!"
Okay, two down.
It was a one-on-one fight now.
He might have better stats and equipment…
But battles weren't just about stats.
"Come at me, you little shit."
My experience in real combat was different from his.
"…Y-You!"
He thrust his spear forward, his movements stiff with tension.
I dodged and grabbed the shaft of his spear, pulling him off balance.
And that was the end of the fight.
Crack, crack, crack!
I jumped on his back, grabbed his head, and slammed it against the ground repeatedly.
He stopped moving.
"…Ptoo."
I spat out the blood and flesh that had filled my mouth and stood up.
It had been a while since I had last fought like this.
I felt more mentally exhausted than when I fought 3rd-grade monsters.
"Haa… Haa…"
My vision was blurry, even though I wasn't injured.
It must have been the adrenaline.
But I didn't have time to rest.
'I need to loot the bodies.'
There was always loot after a hard-fought battle.
___________________
The Imperial soldiers' equipment was standardized.
A leather vest, and a cloth with the Imperial emblem on top.
'It's a bit tight, even though I took the biggest one.'
But the weapons were better.
I could use them even if they didn't fit perfectly. And there were three different types:
A mace and shield.
A spear.
And a two-handed hammer.
My choice was obvious.
'Mace and shield, of course.'
The two-handed hammer was tempting, but I couldn't use it with one hand in my current state.
'I'll keep the bone awl too, just in case…'
I looted their belongings, taking food, water, and other necessities.
I hid the bodies behind the crystals and left the area.
Step, step.
The boots made walking much easier.
This was the power of civilization.
I felt a sense of accomplishment, having upgraded from a bone awl to a proper set of Imperial soldier equipment.
'Now that I have equipment, I can capture someone alive and interrogate them.'
I started looking for my next target.
'Four…'
It was one more than before.
But it didn't matter.
Whoosh.
I lit a torch, even though I didn't need it, and approached them.
The Imperial soldier set had a hidden effect.
"Hey! I'm lost. Can you help me?"
If you were wearing the full set, the Imperial soldiers wouldn't attack you first—
'…Huh?'
That's how it was supposed to work…
"Alert!"
But they raised their weapons as soon as they saw me.
How did they know?
I didn't understand, but I made a mental note of it.
"A pilgrim! It's a pilgrim…!"
Information 8: Imperial soldiers can identify pilgrims.
And…
Slash! Slash! Slash!
「Character has slain five Imperial soldiers.」
「All stats increased by +1.」
Information 9: Killing Imperial soldiers makes you stronger.
'Okay, I'm starting to get the hang of this.'
I finally understood the situation.
-x-X-x-
Four adult men with slightly better stats than me. Honestly, I was a little worried, as I usually relied on my stats and skills to crush monsters and looters. But it turned out to be a needless worry.
'…This is easier than I thought.'
If it had been a fistfight, it might have been a different story. But with a proper weapon and shield, being outnumbered wasn't a big deal.
I could see everything clearly.
Well, I suppose it was only natural, considering I had been fighting monsters like Amelia since my newbie days.
Clang!
I deflected their attacks with my shield.
And then I struck their openings with my mace.
Crack!
I crushed one soldier's skull with my mace, and then there was only one left.
"…I-I don't want to die…"
The last soldier, a young man with a terrified expression, turned and ran.
He abandoned his fallen comrades.
I threw my shield like a boomerang.
Whizz!
Shield Arrow.
A skill I had practiced diligently in my newbie days, hoping for a ranged attack… but I rarely had a chance to use it.
Thwack!
The shield struck the back of the soldier's head, and he collapsed.
I quickly approached him and captured him.
"L-Let me go…!"
He struggled, panicking.
"I have a few questions."
"I have nothing to say to y—Urgh!"
I punched him in the gut, and he calmed down.
"Gah… Cough…!"
He was finally ready to talk.
I began my interrogation, starting with the most important question.
"Where are we?"
"What… do you mean…?"
What do I mean?
I'm asking because I don't know.
"Just answer the question. Where are we?"
"…The Pilgrim's Cave."
Hmm, it looked exactly like the Crystal Cave.
"And what's your objective?"
"To capture all the escaped pilgrims and bring them to justice—"
"Don't shout. It echoes."
I continued my questions, clarifying the information I had gathered and confirming the facts.
There were a few things to note.
Information 10: There were other pilgrims besides me.
Four in total, including myself.
It seemed like Erwen, Bersil, and Ainar were also in a similar situation.
Information 11: The pilgrims' objective was to activate the hidden Witch's Altar.
That seemed like the clear condition.
Even if it wasn't, it would probably lead to a reunion with my companions.
'They should be able to figure it out on their own. They just have to capture a soldier and interrogate him.'
Ah, of course, finding the Witch's Altar was another problem.
But I had a hunch.
It was probably in the same place where we had fought Dreadfear.
The Dark Zone in the center of the cave.
The chamber with the Gavrilius Monument.
If there was something hidden in this cave, it would be there.
'…They wouldn't have started us on the outskirts otherwise.'
I could see the overall concept of this event.
The Rocky Desert, the Goblin Forest, the Beast's Lair, the Land of the Dead.
The four characters, starting at the entrances connected to the 2nd-floor fields, would overcome their trials and reunite in the central area.
'And then we'll probably have a boss fight, or move on to the next phase…'
But how was this event triggered?
Just because we had a four-man raid team?
No, that couldn't be it.
I had raided Dreadfear with four people before, when one of our teammates died.
'…I'll think about the trigger conditions later. Let's focus on clearing this first.'
I finished the interrogation and left the area.
______________________
The first try.
It was the most exciting moment for a true gamer, and I was no exception.
But…
Step.
That was only true in games.
In reality, it was different.
Thump, thump, thump.
Every moment was filled with fear and anxiety.
The excitement was gone, replaced by a chilling tension and a single thought that wouldn't leave my mind.
'I can't make a mistake.'
I had to succeed on my first try.
This wasn't a roguelike game where you learned from your deaths.
There were no second chances here.
「Character has slain ten Imperial soldiers.」
「All stats increased by +1.」
「Character has slain fifteen Imperial soldiers.」
「All stats increased by +1.」
「Character has slain twenty Imperial soldiers.」
「All stats increased by +1…」
I hunted down any soldiers I encountered, focusing on reducing their numbers, and my stats gradually increased.
'Every five soldiers…?'
I wasn't sure how much each stat increased, but that seemed to be the pattern.
'I don't know what kind of boss monster we'll be facing, but I should try to level up as much as possible.'
I wanted to focus on hunting, but my priority was to reach the central area.
It was a rational decision.
'There might be a time penalty.'
The game wouldn't be so kind as to give me both unlimited time and an easy way to level up.
[Dungeon and Stone] wasn't that kind of game.
'…I can hunt later if I have time. Let's move.'
I prioritized movement over hunting and headed towards the center of the cave.
'…It's been at least seven hours…'
New information was updated.
Information 12: The labyrinth closure isn't an escape route.
The time when the labyrinth should have closed had long since passed.
But I was still here.
I was a little worried.
'…It's not like I'll be trapped here if I don't escape in time, is it?'
It was a possibility I couldn't ignore.
But there was no point in worrying about it now—
"A pilgrim!"
I heard a shout from a nearby passage.
How did they know I was here?
I prepared for battle, but no one appeared.
Instead, the soldiers' footsteps faded away.
"Catch him!"
"That filthy servant of the Witch!"
I finally understood.
There was someone else nearby.
Ttadat.
I ran towards the direction the soldiers had gone.
'Ainar? Bersil? Erwen? Who is it?'
As I wondered who was being chased, I saw a group of soldiers in the distance.
'…They've gathered all the nearby soldiers…'
Nine soldiers were blocking the passage.
And Bersil Gowland was surrounded.
"S-Stay back! Don't come any closer!"
She was trembling, swinging her bone wand.
It was a pathetic display of resistance.
The soldiers didn't even flinch.
"What are you waiting for?! Capture her!"
"Kyaaa!"
Bersil was quickly subdued.
'How did she even survive this long?'
I didn't have time to think about it.
The soldiers were about to execute her.
'Damn it, nine is a bit much…'
I didn't have a choice.
I couldn't just stand here and watch her die.
Crack-!
I smashed the last soldier's head with my mace.
"…Ambush!"
The other soldiers turned around.
Well, there was no point in hiding anymore.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!"
I charged forward, my shield raised.
I couldn't just sneak around and rescue her one by one.
"What are you doing?! Kill her first—!"
I pushed two soldiers aside and reached Bersil.
And as I lifted her into my arms…
Puk-!
…a sword pierced my side.
"Y-Yandel…?"
"…We'll talk later."
The soldiers I had pushed aside had gotten back on their feet and blocked my escape route.
I had to change positions.
I couldn't fight them head-on in this narrow passage.
"Hold on tight."
"Huh? Ah, aaaaah!"
I told Bersil to hold on to my neck, and then I turned around and ran.
I pushed a soldier aside with my shield.
And…
Thud.
A sharp pain shot through my thigh.
Puk-!
Damn spearman.
I smashed the spear shaft with my mace and continued running. I managed to escape the encirclement with Bersil in my arms.
But there was a problem…
'I can't run with this leg…'
Well, at least I didn't have to worry about being attacked from behind.
I quickly put Bersil down and sent her away.
The soldiers were approaching from the passage.
'Only three can attack me at once in this narrow passage.'
And there were eight of them left.
'…This is bad.'
I had been injured in my side and thigh.
And if the fight dragged on, more soldiers would arrive.
Clench.
I lowered my stance, preparing for a difficult battle.
「Bersil Gowland has cast [Blooming Flesh].」
…And then I felt a surge of healing energy.
______________________
[Blooming Flesh].
An active skill of the 7th-grade monster, Dark Cultist.
Bersil Gowland had just cast it.
'…What the…?'
A mage using an essence skill?
It was unprecedented in [Dungeon and Stone].
But I had more pressing matters to attend to.
'This changes everything.'
I had to ask Bersil one question.
Not how she had used the skill…
"Bersil, how many more times can you use that?"
"One more time, in three minutes."
"Good."
My injuries had already healed completely.
And even if I was injured again, I could be healed in three minutes.
Which meant I could fight more aggressively.
Ttadat.
I abandoned my defensive stance and charged forward, swinging my mace.
And…
Crack! Crack!
I received a few minor injuries, but I won the battle.
「Character has slain seventy Imperial soldiers.」
「All stats increased by +1.」
I killed seven soldiers, and the remaining two ran away.
I didn't bother chasing them.
"Y-Yandel…"
"…Let's move. Before they call for reinforcements."
"O-Okay!"
I looted a set of armor and a shield for Bersil and then left the area.
And…
「Bersil Gowland has cast [Blooming Flesh].」
We found a safe spot and healed our injuries before starting our conversation.
"What was that? How did you use an ability?"
"I don't know… I could just use it naturally after I woke up… It's strange. It feels like I have a new organ or something. I think I'm the first mage to experience this."
Well, I didn't need a long explanation.
"Anyway, the important thing is that I have another ability."
"What is it?"
"I think it's [Assimilation]."
[Assimilation] was a gnome skill.
It created a 3-meter radius stealth barrier.
It seemed like Bersil had used it to reach this point…
'So mages get a skill boost?'
Hmm, it made sense.
A mage with no combat experience wouldn't survive without some kind of balance patch.
"It was a close call. I ran out of Soul Power, so I was resting when the soldiers found me… I couldn't use Stealth after I was discovered."
"Where did you start?"
"…Huh?"
"You would have seen it if you looked outside before the barrier disappeared."
"Ah… sorry. I was too panicked to notice."
"I see… Well, it's not important. But how did you know to come to the central area?"
"Huh?"
"…?"
Both Bersil and I tilted our heads in confusion.
"You didn't come here on purpose?"
"Is this… the central area…?"
"…"
So she had just been running randomly.
It was a good thing I had found her.
"…How did you manage to defeat ten soldiers, Yandel? And what about your equipment? I didn't even recognize you at first!"
After she finished her story, Bersil started asking me questions, and I shared my experience.
0 minutes after waking up:
Confirmed skill seal, stat reduction, and equipment loss.
Overheard the soldiers' conversation and learned that we were 'pilgrims'.
Deduced that my companions had started at the opposite ends of the cave based on the forest outside the barrier.
Realized that the soldiers were using 'language' and decided to interrogate them for information.
Escaped.
20 minutes:
Realized that the monsters were helping us.
Observed the soldiers fighting the monsters and assessed their strength.
Learned that the cave was dark to them.
30 minutes:
Decided to gather information and ambushed three soldiers.
Won the battle and looted their equipment.
45 minutes:
Ambushed more soldiers while wearing the Imperial soldier set.
Won the battle and interrogated a captive.
Obtained valuable information, including the pilgrims' objective: to activate the Witch's Altar.
2 hours:
Focused on reaching the central area, killing any soldiers I encountered along the way.
And…
About 7 hours later.
"This is it. Are you ready?"
I had shared all the information I had gathered.
"Let's go. We need to reach the central area. The Witch's Altar is probably there."
But Bersil didn't move.
She just stared at me, dumbfounded.
"…Did you… know about this beforehand?"
"Huh?"
If I had known, I wouldn't have gone through all this trouble.
"Of course not."
"But how did you know…?"
It was a ridiculous question.
'…Isn't she a player too?'
Why was she so surprised by my deductions?
-x-X-x-
Crack! Crack! Crack!
I carved a path through the Imperial soldiers, advancing through the passage. The closer I got to the central area, the more soldiers there were, but the battles became easier.
I had Bersil for healing, and my stats were continuously increasing.
Crack!
At this point, my stats were probably comparable to when I was exploring the 3rd floor…
「Character has entered the Pilgrim's Altar.」
A purple fog swirled around the central area as Bersil and I arrived.
"Be careful. Anything could happen from now on."
"Yes."
I tightened my grip on my shield and mace, my senses heightened.
Step, step.
After a few steps into the fog…
The chamber where we had been raiding Dreadfear appeared.
I quickly assessed the terrain.
"...."
The chamber was empty.
And in place of the monument, a large statue, over four meters tall, stood in the center.
"Yandel, that's…"
"The Witch's Altar, probably."
It seemed like we had come to the right place.
After confirming that there was no one else around, I approached the statue and examined it carefully.
"Bersil, do you recognize this?"
"No, I don't. The Witch in the books didn't look like this…"
"Well, they had to portray her as an evil being in the books."
"Right… I guess so… Then is this really what she looked like?"
I wasn't sure, but it seemed likely.
The statue looked exactly like the girl I had briefly encountered after defeating Riakis.
"She looks… so young…"
Bersil reached out to touch the statue, as if in a trance.
"Stop. Something might happen if you touch it."
"Ah, okay!"
Bersil flinched and withdrew her hand.
Then she asked cautiously,
"…What are we going to do now?"
"We need to investigate further."
I examined the statue without touching it.
There was an inscription on the pedestal, but I couldn't decipher it.
"Ancient languages aren't my specialty…"
Damn it, Raven could read ancient languages.
Were pureblood mages inherently more knowledgeable than players?
"That's a shame. It might have given us some clues—"
I was about to say that when…
"One star, one sun, one moon."
A voice echoed from behind us.
"On this land we look upon, all are equal."
I turned around and saw a middle-aged man in knight's armor.
"I will look up to you."
Damn, he looked strong.
Was he the boss?
I hoped he wasn't an Aura user.
"Isn't it disgusting? To think that filthy monsters are equal to us."
I hid Bersil behind me and raised my shield, and the knight chuckled.
"Ah, I suppose it's different for you. If you had any true convictions, you wouldn't have betrayed humanity."
He made a strange sign of the cross, unlike any I had seen before.
"I, Argarsil Dreadfear, swear. By the Imperial Sword that protects this world, I will eliminate all pilgrims."
He drew his sword, its blade gleaming with a white aura.
Whoosh!
'…Holy shit.'
Was this even balanced?
______________________
The moment I saw the aura, my heart sank.
'There's no way I can win this in a normal fight.'
There was no doubt about that.
Even with my boosted stats, I couldn't stand against a knight who could use Aura.
He would bisect me before I could even get close.
But…
'…That's why I have to find it.'
Instead of despairing, I started thinking.
How could I defeat him?
'There has to be a way.'
[Dungeon and Stone] was a cruel game, but it wasn't unfair.
If they had given me an opponent like this with my stats and skills sealed, there had to be a way to defeat him.
'Think.'
I calmly analyzed the situation.
Argarsil Dreadfear.
He was definitely the boss.
Then how could I defeat him?
'Leveling up isn't the answer.'
It would take too long to grind my stats by killing Imperial soldiers.
After reaching a certain level, I had to kill ten soldiers to gain a single stat point.
And even if I hunted for days, I wouldn't be able to reach his level.
'Then… the altar?'
I glanced at the Witch's statue.
Maybe activating the altar would trigger an event that would help me defeat him.
'But how do I activate it?'
I took a step back and approached the statue.
And…
Thud.
I reached out and touched it.
"…"
Nothing happened.
There must be a condition.
'It's an altar… so I have to offer something?'
As I was thinking that…
"Bring the captured pilgrims."
The knight suddenly spoke.
And a voice answered from the fog,
"Yes, Centurion."
It was a disciplined response.
A group of soldiers emerged from the fog, surrounding two captured women.
"…Mister!"
"B-Bjorn…! D-Did you come to save us…?"
So they had been captured.
I had thought Erwen would be able to avoid detection…
I was relieved that they were still alive, and I quickly analyzed the situation.
'…This seems to be part of the scenario.'
Erwen and Ainar had been captured, but they were still alive and had reached the altar.
Was it a coincidence?
It seemed like reuniting at the altar was part of the event.
"…!"
"Ugh!"
The knight kicked Erwen and Ainar, sending them flying towards us. Bersil quickly untied them.
"I'm sorry…"
"Th-Thank you!"
Erwen apologized, and Ainar thanked Bersil.
Unlike Bersil, they both had weapons and armor.
Erwen had a dagger, and Ainar had a greatsword.
'They didn't even confiscate their weapons…'
"What's the meaning of this?"
The knight smirked.
"I just wanted to see something."
"See what?"
"How strong your convictions are. You, who betrayed the Empire and the world."
He looked at us and said,
"Kill each other. Before the Witch you serve."
I couldn't help but laugh.
Did he think he was some kind of demon lord?
"I, Dreadfear, promise you this. Those who prove their loyalty by slaying a fellow pilgrim will be absolved of all their sins."
What a twisted boss fight.
______________________
Dozens of soldiers surrounded us.
And Dreadfear, his sword drawn, stood before them, his eyes filled with arrogance.
"…"
"…"
A moment of silence.
None of my companions were tempted by his offer.
Except for me.
"How can we trust you?"
"B-Bjorn?"
Ainar looked at me, dumbfounded.
But I couldn't help it.
I needed more time to think.
"How can you trust me…?"
Dreadfear chuckled, amused by my question.
"Believe me."
It wasn't a persuasive argument, nor did he provide any evidence.
But it was enough.
「Centurion Dreadfear has cast [Persuasion].」
「Target's Trust greatly increases.」
So his offer wasn't a lie.
"Those who abandon the Witch will be spared."
So that was how we could survive.
It was a troublesome situation.
I wasn't worried about my teammates betraying me.
They wouldn't do that, even if they could survive.
But…
'If he's giving us an easy way out, it means the normal strategy is incredibly difficult…'
What was it?
How could we all survive without sacrificing each other?
"If you're having trouble deciding, I'll make it easier for you."
He took a step forward.
And…
「Centurion Dreadfear has cast [Ownership Revocation].」
「Character is immobilized.」
My body froze as soon as our eyes met.
I couldn't move, no matter how hard I tried.
'…He's not meant to be fought directly.'
I had suspected it when I saw his Aura, but this was ridiculous.
Step, step.
He approached us and stabbed me in the stomach with his sword.
Puk-!
It wasn't a deep wound.
It would heal with a potion, but the bleeding would be a problem if left untreated.
"Ugh!"
He then stabbed the other three as well.
So that was what he meant by 'making it easier'.
"It's your choice now."
"…"
"A painful death, or survival. I'm curious to see how strong your convictions are."
He seemed confident that one of us would betray the others.
It was understandable.
Thump, thump, thump, thump—
When faced with death, people's minds raced.
I had seen it countless times.
'Ainar and Erwen are trustworthy… but…'
What about Bersil?
She was a player, and we hadn't known each other for long.
Could I really trust her?
'…No.'
I gritted my teeth and dismissed the thought.
It was exactly what he wanted.
I wouldn't have even considered it if I hadn't been in this situation.
'…Think.'
I closed my eyes.
I couldn't move anyway.
To clear [Dungeon and Stone], you had to understand the developer's intentions.
'He's forcing us to betray each other after we've reunited.'
That seemed to be the fixed scenario.
The boss was too strong to be defeated in a normal fight, so the solution had to be something else.
And in these kinds of missions, the outcome usually depended on the player's choices.
'What happens if no one betrays the others?'
Do we all die?
Or does the Witch appear and activate the altar?
"…"
I didn't know.
I couldn't be sure.
That's why 99% of first tries ended in failure.
"Five minutes have passed."
"…"
"You've had enough time to think. I'll give you each a chance."
My body regained its mobility.
I was the first.
Clang.
He threw a dagger at my feet.
"Pick it up."
"…"
"It's coated in your favorite goblin poison. It will be a painless death."
That bastard.
"…"
I glared at him, and he smirked and nodded.
"I wish you were all like her."
My body froze again.
Step, step.
He walked over to Erwen.
And…
"Pick it up."
He said the same thing, and Erwen remained silent.
"…"
A tense silence followed.
Thump, thump, thump, thump—
My heart pounded in my chest.
Humans were strange creatures.
Even though I trusted Erwen completely, a part of me couldn't help but doubt her.
"Just one. Stab one of them, and you'll be spared."
I flinched.
Maybe she would choose to stab Bersil…
"…Get lost."
"What a vulgar woman."
Thankfully, Erwen's turn also passed without incident.
"Pick it up."
It was Ainar's turn.
"Behel—! Ugh!"
As soon as she regained control of her body, Ainar charged at him, roaring… but she tripped and fell to the ground.
And then it was Bersil's turn.
"It's your turn."
Bersil crawled towards the dagger and picked it up with both hands.
She looked at him, her body trembling, and asked,
"Just one…?"
"…"
"Just… one person…?"
Damn it.
-x-X-x-
Several bodies lay scattered across the chamber.
An old man slowly approached the center and gently caressed the monument.
[In memory of Diflun Groundel Gavrilius, the Last Sage, and his first giant step.]
A stone tablet erected long ago to commemorate the achievements of a great hero.
"…We're almost there…"
The old man muttered softly and then withdrew his hand from the monument.
He pulled a book from his pocket.
Whoosh!
The book floated in mid-air, its pages flipping open without any support.
[Compendium of Lords I]
The book flipped through its pages, reaching the final chapter.
[…The pilgrim, his heart gripped by fear, abandoned his convictions and fled for his life. But at the end of his escape, he found an even greater fear awaiting him.]
[The terror of being alone.]
[The fear of solitude consumed him. It was a terror he could not escape. Anger and hatred towards himself twisted his body and soul. Even the Earth Mother's care could not save him.]
[As the pilgrim's soul perished, a new power and authority was bestowed upon ———. And so, the insignificant human gained a cursed power.]
[One who sows terror and hates faith. The birth of Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror.]
Thud.
The book closed.
It was an old story, forgotten by time.
______________________
"Just… one person…?"
Bersil's question made my breath catch in my throat.
I wanted to yell at her, to ask her what the hell she was talking about, but my body was frozen. I couldn't do anything.
"Of course. Kill just one, and the Empire will welcome you back."
He sounded almost… happy.
Bersil's voice trembled as she spoke.
I thought she was going to apologize, to try and lessen her guilt… but her words were completely unexpected.
"I… I think I understand now. Yandel… you suspected me earlier… didn't you?"
Suspect?
What was she talking about—?
"I have another ability. Besides hiding and healing…"
"...."
"I don't know which monster it's from, but… I can feel your emotions clearly."
Damn it.
I hadn't anticipated this.
"Tersia too… you were thinking about killing me earlier. You didn't do it, but it wasn't because you trusted me."
"...."
"And Frenelin… she didn't suspect me at all."
My heart pounded as she continued.
This was bad.
There was no way to stop this.
I couldn't even speak.
Thump!
I hadn't felt this much despair, even when Dreadfear used his Aura and AoE stun.
"I understand. It's hard to trust me. We're not as close as you and the others."
Bersil's trembling hand, clutching the dagger, steadied.
"…So I'll do it."
"...."
"If I don't, someone else will."
Damn it.
"...."
I closed my eyes.
And I kept thinking.
What could I do? How could I stop this?
…There was no answer.
I couldn't take it anymore.
I had tried to stay positive, to believe that there was a way out, even when they had sealed my skills and stats and given me this ridiculous boss fight…
'Fuck.'
This was unfair.
Too unfair.
I wasn't dying because I was weak. I hadn't made any mistakes. I hadn't failed to complete the objective within the time limit.
"Stab, pilgrim. Cleanse the dagger with their filthy blood and prove your purity."
And yet, one of us had to die?
Without even a chance to talk?
Swoosh.
Bersil stood up.
She approached me and bent down.
I could finally see her face clearly.
"Yandel…"
Her eyes were filled with tears.
"We're going to fail… aren't we?"
So she had chosen me.
She had decided to sacrifice herself so the others could survive.
I closed my eyes tightly.
"Don't let them die in vain."
A soft hand caressed my cheek.
'…Huh?'
I opened my eyes.
Bersil was holding the dagger to her own throat, her back to Dreadfear.
"I've made a lot of wrong choices."
Wait a minute.
"I thought it was the right thing to do. That anyone would have done the same. That I was being smart."
I tried to speak, but I couldn't.
"But it always ended badly."
She withdrew her hand from my cheek.
"I'm not going to make the same mistake again."
No, you could have just waited.
Maybe that was the solution.
Why did you do this?
I didn't understand.
But…
"I told you. If I don't do it, someone else will."
That one sentence made me understand.
"And besides, I think this is a 'no betrayal' scenario."
Puk-!
We were the ones who pushed her.
______________________
「The first pilgrim has perished.」
「All stats of the surviving pilgrims increased by +400.」
______________________
Thud.
Her body collapsed to the ground.
The knight looked down at her and muttered,
"…What a fool."
My blood ran cold.
My mind went blank.
It felt like something inside me had snapped.
'She's… really…'
Dead…?
I felt a wave of nausea, as if I had drunk too much.
BEEEEEEEEP—
His voice echoed through the ringing in my ears.
"I'll give you another chance."
A black aura started emanating from his body.
「Centurion Dreadfear has cast [Hour of Execution].」
「Target's Fear greatly increases.」
It was similar to killing intent.
It clouded your mind and made it difficult to think rationally.
"…"
"…"
My body screamed in protest, and my mind was filled with the urge to run away.
[Run.]
A voice whispered in my ear.
But another thought surfaced.
"Pick it up."
What if Bersil had made a different choice?
Would we have been able to resist?
'Maybe…'
She had probably anticipated this situation.
Like a true [Dungeon and Stone] player, she had prioritized the developer's intentions.
Swoosh.
Blood pooled on the ground.
And…
Zzzzt-!
As the blood touched the statue…
「An unknown entity embraces the noble pilgrim's soul.」
「The altar has been activated.」
The entire cave shook, as if a rift was opening.
Rumble!
A bright light emanated from the statue.
「The light of trust dispels the darkness of fear.」
The power that had been binding me vanished.
Ttadat.
I grabbed the fallen dagger and stood up.
The knight looked annoyed, but not wary.
"Do you think that changes anything?"
Well, I didn't know yet.
But we had cleared one pattern.
'What a ridiculous skill…'
It was a disgusting ability.
To make people betray each other with a single word…
"There's still time. There's only one way for you to escape this cave alive. Prove your purity."
Who would believe him now?
"Mister, my strength has returned."
Oh, so I wasn't the only one who received a buff.
"Ainar, take care of Bersil."
"…Alright."
As Ainar collected Bersil's body…
The knight charged at us, his sword a blur.
Whiiiish.
It was much faster than the Imperial soldiers we had encountered before.
But thanks to the altar's activation, my reflexes had improved significantly. I could see the trajectory of his sword.
'He's aiming for my legs…'
He still wanted us to betray each other.
Thud!
Instead of blocking his attack with my shield, I jumped over it.
And then I swung my mace at his temple.
He didn't expect my agility and couldn't dodge in time.
Thud-!
But he was tough.
I wouldn't be able to defeat him in my current state.
I had only managed to land a hit because he was caught off guard.
'Not yet…'
I suppressed my desire to fight and shouted,
"Run!"
It wasn't the time to confront him yet.
Thanks to the stat boost, the Imperial soldiers surrounding the chamber were no longer a threat.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Ainar charged through them like a rhinoceros, scattering them like leaves.
We quickly escaped the chamber.
"Don't let them escape!"
The knight, who had been hit by my mace, quickly recovered and started chasing us.
His speed was…
'Slightly faster than ours.'
Which meant we would be caught eventually.
I had to find a way out.
I ran with all my might, my mind racing.
Why had our stats increased?
Was it just a buff from the altar?
Or was there another condition?
'What's the clear condition?'
Was it a game of tag?
Maybe our stats would increase as we ran away from him, and eventually we would be strong enough to defeat him.
I wasn't sure.
But I set a goal.
"…W-Where should we go…?"
"We're leaving the cave."
Maybe escaping the cave after activating the altar was the clear condition.
But it wouldn't be easy.
"…Mister, we can't keep running forever."
He would catch up to us eventually.
Ainar and Erwen each suggested a plan.
"Bjorn, let's fight him! We have to avenge the mage!"
"No, we can't win. I'll lure him away."
Fight, or flight.
They weren't bad ideas…
"…Alright. I'll be the bait."
"No, I should do it. I can move faster alone… And I have an ability."
"An ability?"
"I can sense where everyone is. I didn't know what it was until we reunited here…"
Was it like the Guide's ability to detect portals?
It would make regrouping easier.
"Trust me. I'm the best choice for this."
I hesitated.
What was the best option?
As always, I didn't have much time to think.
"…Don't get hurt."
Erwen didn't answer.
She just smiled and slowed down.
___________________
"Huff… Huff…"
I focused on my breathing as I ran.
It had been about two hours since I parted ways with Erwen.
'We're almost halfway there…'
I had covered more than half the distance in two hours. It had taken us almost eight hours to reach the central area from the entrance.
'My Physical stats are probably about a third of what they normally are…'
Of course, that was just based on my stats. I didn't have any skills, so I was still no match for him.
'But my stats aren't increasing anymore…'
Was it a one-time boost?
I didn't know, but I continued running towards the entrance with Ainar.
And after a while…
'When is Erwen coming back? I hope nothing happened…'
I was starting to get worried.
「The second pilgrim has perished.」
「All stats of the surviving pilgrims increased by +400.」
My stats increased again.
-x-X-x-
"It's a pilgrim! Stop him—!"
Crack!
I dashed through the passage, crushing the skulls of any Imperial soldiers that appeared. My stats continued to increase with every five kills, but it wasn't making much of a difference in this situation.
'At this rate, I should arrive within an hour…'
I ran with all my might, but my mind was still in turmoil.
"Bjorn… when is Erwen coming back?"
Even Ainar was worried, so I could only imagine how I felt.
"...."
Had something happened to her?
Was she injured? Or worse…
My heart ached with worry.
But there was nothing I could do.
I just had to trust that she would return, and keep running.
「Character has slain four hundred and five Imperial soldiers.」
「All stats increased by +1.」
「Character has slain four hundred and ten Imperial soldiers.」
「All stats increased by +1.」
「Character has slain four hundred and fifteen Imperial soldiers.」
「All stats increased by +1…」
「….」
Time passed.
'30 minutes.'
The estimated arrival time kept decreasing, and my worry for Erwen grew.
And then…
Thud.
I stopped running.
"I told you, pilgrim."
"...."
"There's only one way for you to escape this cave alive."
He was standing in front of us, blocking our path.
______________________
There was something I didn't understand.
He hadn't been chasing us from behind. How had he managed to get in front of us?
We had even increased our speed with the stat boosts.
'…He caught up to us?'
It didn't make sense.
But I had more pressing matters to attend to.
"Ainar, get ready to fight."
Ainar nodded and gently placed Bersil's body on the ground.
"…Rest in peace, mage."
Dreadfear smirked at us.
"Fools."
What? I hadn't run away because I thought I could win.
'I have a chance with my current stats.'
I lowered my stance, my shield raised.
It was a meaningless gesture.
A cheap iron shield wouldn't protect me from his Aura-enhanced blade.
"...."
A tense silence followed.
And then he spoke.
"My offer still stands."
Was he insane?
He was still obsessed with that ridiculous idea.
But he seemed willing to talk, so I took the opportunity to ask a question that had been bothering me.
"…What happened to Erwen?"
It was a question I had been carrying in my heart for hours.
He answered curtly,
"That female pilgrim is dead."
"Bullshit."
"You refuse to listen to your inner voice."
Damn it, I shouldn't have asked.
He was a boss monster obsessed with betrayal. I couldn't trust his words.
"Faith cannot change the truth. No matter how righteous you believe yourselves to be, you are nothing but filthy traitors—"
I didn't need to hear any more.
"Ainar!"
I shouted and charged forward.
As soon as I closed the distance, he drew his sword and attacked.
Therefore…
Ttadat.
I dodged, stepping back before entering his attack range.
Ainar took advantage of the opening and charged at him.
And…
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
She swung her greatsword down with all her might.
He dodged, twisting his body to the side.
Kwang!
Her sword slammed into the ground.
But it wasn't a complete failure.
Hit and run.
Disrupt his stance and create an opening.
That was the essence of close combat.
Ttadat.
As he dodged Ainar's attack, I threw my shield at his face.
It wouldn't do much damage… but it would momentarily blind him.
Ttadat.
I took advantage of the opening and swung my mace.
But he reacted.
"...!"
He blocked my attack with his sword.
If our weapons collided, my mace would be shattered.
So…
I twisted my body and changed the trajectory of my attack.
Whoosh!
My mace missed him, slicing through the air.
And at that moment…
Puk-!
Ainar's greatsword pierced his shoulder.
'Okay, we've scored the first hit.'
But I wasn't satisfied.
There was no reason to retreat now.
Battle was a game of numbers.
Attack.
Defend.
Dodge.
You had to choose one of the three in a split second, and your next move depended on your opponent's choice.
That's why we were limiting his options.
Ttadat.
He was on the defensive now, focusing on blocking and dodging.
He couldn't afford to attack.
But even his defense wasn't perfect.
'Left.'
I knew he would dodge to the left.
Thud-!
Our coordinated attacks forced him to make mistakes, creating even bigger openings.
We could predict his next move, and he was losing his options.
It was a vicious cycle.
But…
"…"
I couldn't let my guard down.
He could still use his Aura.
And there were always unexpected variables in battle.
Like this.
Whizz!
I feinted an attack and then changed the trajectory of my mace… but the outcome was different this time.
"…!"
He had anticipated my move and followed my mace with his sword.
I twisted my body again to avoid losing my weapon, creating an opening.
Thud-!
He kicked me in the stomach. It wasn't a serious injury, but…
He had also wasted a turn attacking me.
Puk-!
Ainar's greatsword pierced his thigh.
And at the same time…
Puk-!
His sword pierced my stomach.
'Damn it, that hurts.'
I hadn't expected him to be so aggressive.
Ainar didn't even ask if I was okay.
She just kept attacking.
"Haaa!"
I quickly recovered and rejoined the fight.
It wasn't like the bleeding would stop if I retreated.
The important thing wasn't how much I was injured.
It was whether I could kill him before he killed me.
If defeating him meant escaping this place, I didn't care about my injuries.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
The battle continued.
It wasn't easy, even though our stats had increased significantly, and we were two against one.
Our numerical advantage didn't last long.
"For the Empire…!"
Imperial soldiers kept appearing, swarming us like moths to a flame.
They made the fight more difficult, but there was an advantage.
Slash!
Weapon refills.
I grabbed a new weapon from a fallen soldier as soon as my mace was broken.
Sword, hammer, mace…
It didn't matter.
As long as it was long enough to swing.
Klang-!
Arm, leg, torso, shoulder, eye, ear.
The more I was injured, the worse his condition became.
Whiiiish-!
His Aura-enhanced sword lost its momentum, his movements becoming sluggish.
His Aura itself had also weakened.
One of his arms was dangling uselessly, and his left leg, pierced twice by Ainar, was barely functioning.
'Soon…'
We were going to win.
He would collapse before we did.
I swung my hammer at his temple.
「Centurion Dreadfear's HP is below 15%.」
And then…
An explosion erupted from his body, sending me flying into a wall.
I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head, but I quickly got up and looked at him.
"Damn it."
I couldn't help but curse.
「Centurion Dreadfear has cast [Eternal Nightmare].」
「All HP restored.」
He had instantly healed all his injuries.
He walked towards me and said,
"My offer…"
"…"
"…still stands."
Bullshit.
I asked him,
"Are your parents…"
"…"
"…parrots?"
He didn't answer.
He just stabbed me in the stomach.
"…This damn game…"
And then everything went black.
______________________
「Character's HP is below 5%.」
「[Narcolepsy] activated.」
「Natural Regeneration greatly increased.」
「Character enters [Unconscious] state.」
______________________
Darkness.
I felt like I was floating on a river.
Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror.
How were we supposed to defeat him?
The answer was simple.
It was impossible.
I had thought we could win with our boosted stats, but it was a trap.
He wasn't meant to be defeated.
Which meant…
'I was wrong.'
My judgment had been wrong.
I should have run away and tried to escape the cave.
'It was a game of tag from the beginning.'
The stat boosts were just a handicap.
Fighting him head-on was never the right answer.
Therefore…
"Huff… Huff…"
I was paying the price for my mistake.
「Character's HP is above 15%.」
「[Unconscious] state changed to [Paralysis].」
「Natural Regeneration bonus slightly decreased.」
When I opened my eyes, I was being carried by Ainar.
"Catch them…!"
I could hear the soldiers' shouts behind us.
Ainar was running, dodging their attacks.
"Bjorn…? You're awake…?"
"…"
"Are you… okay?! Can you hear me?!"
I forced my mouth open.
"I'm… fine… Explain the situation…"
"Ah, o-okay…"
Ainar explained as she ran.
"After you… collapsed… the entire cave flashed… and he stopped moving… I took advantage of the opportunity and ran…"
He stopped moving?
Was it the altar's effect?
I didn't know.
It was a hidden piece I had never encountered before, and there were no system logs to explain it.
"How long… was I unconscious?"
"I-I don't know… about five minutes…?"
Five minutes.
"A-Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm… fine… Just paralyzed…"
What was my current state?
I thought for a moment, and then I remembered.
'[Narcolepsy].'
A passive skill that activated when my HP dropped below 5%.
It changed to [Paralysis] at 15% and then gradually healed me until the status effect was removed at 30%.
'So I have a skill too…'
Not just Bersil and Erwen, but I also had a starting skill.
It was a passive skill, so I hadn't noticed it before.
'Then Ainar must have one too…'
I wondered what her skill was.
But I didn't have time to think about it.
"L-Left…"
"Huh?"
"Left… is the way…"
"Ah…"
I gave Ainar directions as I organized my thoughts.
And then I heard a distinct sound.
"Huff… Huff…"
It wasn't just the sound of exhaustion.
"Ainar… are you okay?"
"…I'm… fine…"
She didn't look fine at all.
"Just… a few injuries… because I couldn't use my hands… Don't worry about it…"
That's when I realized something.
Ainar couldn't use her hands because she was carrying me.
Then how had she been fighting the soldiers?
Had she just been lucky enough to avoid them?
I soon found out.
"…Filthy pilgrims!"
A group of soldiers appeared in front of us.
Ainar's choice was simple.
She didn't stop.
She charged at them.
Puk-!
Swords and spears pierced her body, but she endured, avoiding the vital points.
And the result?
Shoulder.
Arm.
Leg.
She was injured in three places, but she managed to break through their lines.
The soldiers regrouped and continued their pursuit, and Ainar's breathing became even more ragged.
"Huff… Huff…"
I watched her from her back, speechless.
And then she asked,
"Bjorn… are you… hurt?"
"…Stop."
This was too reckless.
She would collapse soon, and even if we reached our destination, how would we heal her injuries?
We didn't have any potions.
It would be wiser to put me down and wait for [Narcolepsy] to wear off.
But…
"I… can't…"
Ainar refused to listen.
"Why…?"
"I… saw the future… when you collapsed…"
"…The future?"
"It was the same when the mage died… I thought it was just a hallucination… but I think it's my ability…"
What had she seen?
I asked her several times, but she didn't answer.
"I… can't stop… So trust me."
"…"
"I… won't fall…"
She muttered her last words, her voice filled with determination, and then she continued running.
Step, step.
She didn't stop, even when she saw the soldiers in front of us.
She just kept running.
-x-X-x-
Among the various detection abilities, there were some with a precognitive concept.
A prime example was [Hands of Regret].
A 1st-grade skill obtained from a 9th-floor or higher essence.
The effect was simple.
In the game, when a bonded teammate died, the message "Memories of regret rewind time" would appear, and you could restart from a checkpoint.
Hmm, was that really precognition?
Anyway, this skill had a clear drawback despite its powerful effect.
It only activated when a bonded teammate died.
It had a cooldown of several months in the city.
And it could only be used three times.
It didn't even activate if you died.
Therefore…
'It's not that skill.'
We weren't bonded, and judging by our conversation, Ainar had already used her ability at least twice.
'The most likely candidate is…'
I narrowed it down to one possibility.
[Prophet of Misfortune]
A rare 6th-grade passive skill.
It activated randomly and provided the user with precognitive information through system logs.
Like this:
「An ominous vision appears before the prophet's eyes.」
「In the near future, Bjorn Yandel will be slain by Centurion Dreadfear's sword. Do not be fooled by his absence. He will never give up.」
I had classified this skill as an information gathering skill, and it had been quite useful in the mid-game.
Knowing the location of traps, the types and characteristics of monsters… it had been a great help in unexplored areas.
But…
'It must be different in reality.'
The user would actually see a 'vision'.
And they would experience the information firsthand, not just read it in a few lines.
"Huff… Huff…"
"…Ainar, did you see me die?"
"...."
She didn't answer.
But her flinch was enough of an answer.
'So that's why she's pushing herself so hard…'
I closed my mouth.
There was no point in arguing with her.
She wouldn't listen.
All I could do was…
"Left."
…guide her.
And…
Grit.
…clench my jaw.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I was helplessly riding on her back as she charged through the soldiers.
Puk-!
An arrow pierced her leg.
"Die!"
A spear grazed her skin.
I could only watch.
"We got him! Now's our chance…!"
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
"…What power…!"
Ainar finally stopped running.
Not because we had reached our destination.
We were still far from the entrance, but she couldn't go any further.
Not while carrying me.
Thud.
Her speed had decreased due to her injuries, and the soldiers were closing in.
She stopped running and turned to face them.
"Don't… worry…"
She muttered and then swung her greatsword.
I watched her from my spot on the wall.
One, two, three, four, five, six…
She slew seven soldiers before an axe struck her arm.
Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, seventeen…
She killed eighteen before a spear pierced her collarbone.
Forty-three, forty-four, forty-five…
Forty-six, and an arrow struck her left eye.
Seventy-one, seventy-two, seventy-three…
The bodies piled up.
One hundred.
A brief silence.
The soldiers hesitated, unable to approach her.
She was still standing, despite being covered in arrows and bleeding profusely.
"….."
"….."
But the silence didn't last long.
"She's tired…! Don't back down!"
The soldiers charged at her again, stepping over the corpses.
One hundred and thirty.
Ainar spoke to me.
"Sorry…"
"...."
"I'm… losing my strength…"
She collapsed on top of me.
Puk, puk, puk-!
I heard sounds that shouldn't be coming from my comrade's body.
BEEEEEEEEP—
It felt like a nightmare.
My head was pounding, and I felt nauseous.
Puk, puk, puk—
BEEEEEEEEP!
Countless sounds assaulted my ears.
And after an eternity…
My body, which had been frozen in place…
Twitched.
______________________
「Character's HP has reached 30%.」
「Status effect [Paralysis] removed.」
______________________
I reached out and grabbed the nearest weapon.
I pushed Ainar off me and stood up.
Whoosh!
I swung the weapon.
The soldiers flinched and backed away, creating a small opening.
I lifted Ainar onto my back and started running.
Just like she had done for me.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
I charged through the passage.
"Stop him!"
Swords and spears were thrust towards me, but I ignored them, tanking the damage as long as it wasn't aimed at Ainar.
「Character's HP is below 15%.」
My body was battered and bruised, but I had broken through their lines.
"Huff… Huff…"
I had some breathing room now.
I checked on Ainar.
"Ainar! Are you okay?! Wake up! You can't sleep now! Get up—!"
A faint voice reached my ears.
"…Bjorn…"
"…!"
She was alive.
"Th-Thank goodness… Are you okay? Just hold on a little longer! Eight more minutes!"
Then we could leave this cave.
I wasn't sure if that was the clear condition, but considering the difficulty of this event, there had to be a way to recover.
"So…!"
Just trust me and hold on a little longer.
I was about to say that when Ainar spoke.
"…Let… me go…"
What was she talking about?
Was she delirious?
"L-Leave me… behind…"
No, I had heard her correctly.
I was angry, but I couldn't bring myself to scold her.
"You're delirious. Just stay quiet. That's all you can do."
"…"
She didn't say anything more.
Maybe she had agreed.
Or maybe she was too weak to speak.
'…Is she dead?'
I swallowed my anxiety.
And then I ran.
I could smell the forest as I approached the entrance.
The light from outside seeped into the cave, illuminating the passage.
I could see the entrance in the distance.
"Ainar! Ainar! Wake up! We're almost there!"
"…"
"Answer me!"
"…Be… careful…"
What was she talking about?
Anyway, she was alive.
That was enough.
I had to get out of here—
"…?"
I stopped as I reached the entrance.
I approached the transparent barrier and reached out.
And then…
Thud.
The entrance was blocked.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
If we couldn't escape, then what was the point?
They had given us an invincible boss and then blocked the exit?
"Then what's the solution…?"
I felt like something inside me had shattered.
"B-Bjorn…"
But I smiled.
"A-Ainar? Don't worry! I'll break through this barrier!"
A barbarian's spirit was unyielding.
Klang! Klang! Klang!
I punched the barrier with all my might.
"Bjorn…"
But it didn't even budge.
But a barbarian never gave up.
"S-Stop…"
Fist, foot, forehead.
I even slammed my shoulder against it.
Kwaaang!
'Is this thing indestructible?'
'Okay, Plan B.'
I changed my target and started attacking the wall next to the barrier.
Even the strongest doors had weak points.
Maybe there was a hidden passage.
"Stop… and…"
Klang-!
"Just go…"
"…"
"Before he comes…"
I couldn't take it anymore.
Kwaaang!
I slammed my forehead against the wall in frustration.
But it didn't make me feel any better.
"There he is…!"
The soldiers appeared behind us.
They had caught up to us already? I didn't even have time to be surprised. I charged at them.
Crack-!
I smashed the first soldier's head against the wall and took his weapon.
And then the massacre began.
"…A-A demon!"
"Don't back down!"
"For the Empire…!"
One, two, three, four…
'Five.'
Six, seven, eight…
'…How many have I killed?'
I lost count.
One, two, three…
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The cave fell silent.
Only corpses remained.
I turned around.
"…Ainar."
I rushed to her side and checked her pulse.
She was still breathing.
Faintly.
"Bjorn…"
She opened her eyes, her body trembling.
"…"
I couldn't speak.
I wanted to tell her it was okay, that she would be fine, that we would get out of here…
But I couldn't.
"Bjorn… son of Yandel…"
She smiled weakly.
"My… precious… friend…"
Her words were like a stake through my heart.
Precious friend…
"You… will become… a great warrior…"
Something inside me broke.
___________________
A painful truth, or a sweet lie.
It was clear which one was better for the dying.
But…
'Precious friend…'
Before I could even think, the words tumbled out of my mouth.
It was a confession and an apology.
"I'm… I'm not… like that…"
The real Bjorn Yandel was someone else.
I was just an evil spirit who had stolen his body.
The evil spirit she should have killed on sight.
I mumbled those words, staring at her unfocused eyes.
And then I realized…
"…"
…she had stopped breathing.
Her eyes were still open, but there was no denying it.
「The third pilgrim has perished.」
Ainar was dead.
And…
「All stats of the surviving pilgrim increased by +400.」
My stats increased again.
That's when I understood.
「You are the only survivor.」
When the stats increased.
And…
「Special Condition – Perfect Bond has been met.」
「All stats tripled.」
「Slay Centurion Dreadfear.」
What the clear condition of this hidden phase was.
-x-X-x-
Regret washed over me.
'I shouldn't have done the Floor Lord raid…'
If I had just accepted the compensation based on contribution… or if I hadn't touched the Chaos Lord…
Or if…
'I hadn't played that game.'
If I hadn't come here…
'None of this would have happened.'
Clench. I balled my fists so tightly that my knuckles turned white.
But there was something I had to do before wallowing in regret.
Or rather…
'It's not time for regrets yet.'
After realizing how the stat boosts worked, a new possibility had emerged.
Therefore…
Swoosh.
I looked down the corpse-filled passage.
Step, step.
He was slowly approaching.
"This is convenient. I was wondering how to find you."
The moment he appeared…
I charged at him, roaring.
Dash!
It was a speed I had never experienced before, even with my Strength and Resistance-focused build.
It felt like I had teleported.
And…
Thud!
I didn't need a weapon anymore.
My body itself was a weapon.
Harder than any metal.
Thud!
I punched him in the face.
Whoosh!
He retaliated with his Aura-enhanced sword, but his movements seemed sluggish to me.
Swoosh.
I dodged his attack and closed the distance, landing a series of punches.
It felt like I was using a cheat code.
I didn't have any skills, but my base stats were much higher than when I was using [Gigantification] at full power.
'I don't think I would even be injured by his Aura attacks now…'
But there was no reason to take unnecessary risks.
I kept my distance and continued my one-sided assault.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
It didn't take long.
Maybe ten hits in total?
He collapsed to the ground, unable to fight back.
Thud! Thud!
He was in a much worse state than when we had cornered him before.
But he didn't regenerate.
It seemed like my theory was correct.
'There's a chance that his regeneration skill has a limited number of uses…'
But if he was a boss monster that could only be killed when he was alone…
'Maybe…'
It wasn't too late.
I punched him one more time.
Crack!
His head caved in like a watermelon.
And at the same time…
「Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror, has been slain. EXP +100」
「Floor Lord Kill Bonus. EXP +15」
I felt a surge of experience points as his body dissolved into particles of light.
'…Is it… over?'
Was it all for nothing?
As I stood there, frozen in place…
「You have passed the trial perfectly.」
「The Nameless Pilgrim accepts defeat.」
…the cave started to collapse.
「Fragments of distorted memories begin to converge.」
I was surprised, but I just watched.
There was nothing I could do. Running away wouldn't change anything.
Rumble!
The cave walls crumbled, the ceiling cracked, and even the forest outside began to distort.
Everything was collapsing, like a dying monster.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The world shattered into a kaleidoscope of colors.
And then…
Darkness.
It wasn't just darkness, but a void where nothing existed.
Whoosh!
I heard the sound of a fire igniting, and the darkness receded.
"...."
I was in a cave.
Dozens of torches flickered on the walls, illuminating a stone altar with a book on top.
'What's this now?'
I approached the altar and opened the book.
It was written in ancient language, but I could read it without any problems.
[If I had to depict terror, I would paint his face on a blank canvas. Centurion Dreadfear. The one who taught me the true meaning of fear…]
As I focused on the words, the letters blurred, and a strange sensation washed over me.
[I met him at the moment of my greatest triumph.]
Memories flooded my mind.
______________________
I wasn't afraid of death.
I would die a glorious death.
That's what I had always told myself.
But reality was different.
"I, Dreadfear, promise you this. Those who prove their loyalty by slaying a fellow pilgrim will be absolved of all their sins."
He had made a cunning offer to us, who had failed our mission.
Of course, none of us believed him.
We closed our eyes, ready to accept our fate. A noble silence filled the cave.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
But my heart pounded in my chest, yearning for life.
Was this really the end?
I didn't want to die.
But betraying my comrades…
"Believe me."
It was strange.
Why did those words sound so… true?
"...."
I opened my eyes.
The woman I had journeyed with was also looking around nervously.
"...."
Our eyes met, and I knew instinctively.
Thump!
She was about to give in.
I didn't have any proof, but I was sure of it. We had been through so much together.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
My mind raced.
I couldn't breathe, and my vision blurred.
Smirk.
She smiled at me awkwardly.
I felt a surge of unease.
The seed of doubt had been planted, and it was growing, fueled by fear.
[…If I have to kill someone… it should be her…]
I heard her thoughts.
It wasn't just a hallucination.
We hadn't gotten along. We had even argued during our last drinking session.
And this was the Earth Mother's sanctuary.
A revelation… it had to be a divine revelation.
The Earth Mother had revealed her wicked thoughts to me.
I was convinced that she was planning to betray us, to sacrifice me.
"Haa… Haa… Haa…"
When I came to, I was holding a dagger.
The woman's eyes widened as she saw me.
"Y-You… you were thinking… about killing me… weren't you…?"
"N-No! I wasn't!"
"D-Don't lie! I can hear your thoughts…!"
I stabbed her.
My comrades shouted at me, but I couldn't stop.
If I hadn't done it, she would have done it to me.
"Haha! Hahaha!"
Centurion Dreadfear.
He laughed, looking at me with a delighted expression.
"Well done. Who's next?"
I asked, my body trembling,
"J-Just one… you said… if I killed just one…"
"I won't kill you. But… are you sure? If you put down the dagger, I'll let them go too."
My mind went blank.
I had been tricked.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
My heart pounded in my chest. My comrades shouted at me, urging me to resist.
To regain my senses and die with honor.
But I couldn't hear them.
I kept seeing ominous visions of the future.
It had started as a delusion, but it had quickly become my reality.
Clench.
I couldn't let go of the dagger.
Puk-!
When I came to, all my comrades were dead. I asked him if I could live now, and he said yes.
He told me to leave.
He would spare my life.
I ran, not daring to look back. I ran for hours, until I reached the entrance of the cave.
And then I realized what I had done.
"N-No… I… I'm not…"
A new fear consumed me.
And there was only one way to escape it.
Puk-!
I stabbed myself with the same dagger I had used to kill my comrades.
As my consciousness faded, I saw the Centurion's face in the distance.
"I knew it from the moment I saw you. You would be a valuable asset."
He looked at me with a serious expression and then called for a mage. The mage sprinkled a strange liquid on my dying body.
Sizzle!
A searing pain shot through me, as if my soul was being torn apart.
And then a warm energy embraced me. But it couldn't heal my shattered soul.
"It's done."
I shed my human form and was reborn as a new being.
A being with infinite power and authority, but devoid of emotions and desires.
An empty shell.
"…This is unusual. He still seems to have some semblance of sanity."
"That's impossible."
The mage's words made him approach me cautiously.
"Tell me. What is your name?"
I answered,
"Dreadfear."
"…What? That's my name—"
Crunch.
I felt no fear anymore.
______________________
「Character has received a fragment of the Nameless Pilgrim's memory.」
「Can now freely read and write ancient language.」
______________________
A fragmented memory, like a dream.
But the emotions and sensations were vivid.
Whoosh!
The book, having reached its final page, burst into flames and turned to ashes.
I felt a presence and turned around.
He was standing about ten steps away, staring at me.
"Dreadfear."
Or should I call him the Nameless Pilgrim?
He had absorbed the Centurion and taken his name.
'…What the hell is going on?'
I was confused.
The raid was over.
I had clearly felt the surge of experience points.
Then who was this guy?
"I have a question."
He spoke, his voice echoing through the cave.
"Why… weren't you afraid?"
I understood his question.
I knew how he had been born.
He must be curious.
We hadn't been driven by fear or hallucinations.
We had the [Prophet of Misfortune], who could see the future.
And we had the ability to read each other's emotions.
And that wasn't all.
The Centurion had used a skill to make us believe his words, and he had regenerated his HP when we were about to defeat him.
But…
"Because none of us are as weak as you."
I answered bluntly, and he nodded silently.
"I see…"
It was a strange experience, having a conversation with a boss monster.
But there was something I had to confirm.
"Now tell me."
A possibility that had emerged after everyone else had died.
"They're all still alive, aren't they?"
"Before I answer that, I have a question. Why do you think so?"
"Because this raid is designed to be cleared solo."
It was too strange.
I had been playing [Dungeon and Stone] for almost ten years, and I had never encountered a boss that was impossible to defeat with a full party.
And Dreadfear's concept itself was a clue.
Fear, hatred… but his title was 'Lord of Terror'. He was testing our faith.
"…That's surprising."
He looked at me with a strange expression.
"You understand the laws of this world."
Laws?
It was just big data based on experience.
"Anyway, what's the answer?"
He finally answered.
"It depends on your choice."
It wasn't the answer I had expected, but it sent shivers down my spine.
So they weren't really dead.
"…What do you mean by 'choice'?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
He extended his hand, and two stone doors appeared.
「The Nameless Pilgrim offers you a choice.」
He had given me two options.
"If you go through that door, you will regain everything you have lost here. As if awakening from a long nightmare."
"And if I go through the other door?"
"Everything will become reality. But you will gain something even greater than what you have lost."
Damn it, he was still playing his role.
I looked at him and asked,
"What if I just crush your head?"
It was a question any player would ask.
He stared at me for a moment and then answered.
"You will gain even more."
"…"
"That is also a rule of this world."
I see.
I made my decision.