Chapter 214
Nine-Star Swordmaster Lowen.
Having the second-in-command of the Demon King's army, who stood directly behind the pinnacle of the demons, Demon King Lupellos, join the party was a huge gain.
‘Simply put, our party now has two people with combat power on my level.’
They say that in a world where dragons do not exist, the lion is the king of beasts.
At the present point in time, before the intervention of the Heavenly Realm, Nine-Star beings were the strongest.
And if there were two people belonging to that level of the strongest in the party, there was practically nothing to fear.
To put it bluntly, with their current strength, they could probably defeat even the Demon King with ease.
Of course, the Demon King was much stronger than the Lupellos Seong Yohan knew from the original story, and there was also Kacherto Lienz, who followed him, so it would not be that easy.
‘But that’s something to think about when the time comes.’
Thanks to Lowen, who should have been leading the First Legion, temporarily joining the party, they could challenge a dungeon one level more difficult than the party dungeon they had originally planned to visit.
For now, that alone was enough.
After the battle with the First Legion of the Demon King's army, the dungeon they had originally planned to visit was Gleshty's Warehouse, located in the southern part of Raygle Territory.
They had intended to connect the eighth rings of Romina and Ridenhall there.
However, with Lowen temporarily joining, the number of party members had increased to four.
As a result, their destination was changed from the south to the east.
Party Dungeon, Ark of Confinement.
Today, they intended to obtain additional rewards on top of their previous objective.
“It's so humid that it's sticking to me……”
Romina, who was following directly behind them, frowned as she fluttered the hem of her clothes.
Denelsurt Mountain, where the dungeon Ark of Confinement was hidden, was so humid that it was covered in thick fog despite it being winter.
“That guy is already dead, so I suppose that's understandable… but are you okay?”
“It certainly doesn't feel pleasant, but it won't interfere with fighting.”
Romina let out a small sigh as she looked at Lowen's expressionless face.
Although their personalities did not seem to match very well, the two had quickly grown close because they shared the same enemies, the Demon King and Kacherto.
‘Though Romina was basically the one-sidedly pestering the overly gloomy Lowen.’
In the end, Romina's behavior would probably have a rather positive emotional effect on Lowen, who was always depressed because of her guilt.
While the party of four exchanged various conversations, they entered deep into Denelsurt Mountain.
There was another road for crossing the mountain and heading toward the nearby territory, but Glenn headed into the grassland where there was no path.
Before long, a large open area appeared through the thick fog.
“This is it.
The entrance.
I'll open the door, so everyone organize what I told you.”
“Understood.”
Glenn soon took various magical tools out of his inventory and began preparing to create an entrance connected to the dungeon.
Romina shared the knowledge about the dungeon that Glenn had told her and Ridenhall the previous day.
Lowen simply watched in fascination as the party moved with the familiarity of people who had done this many times before.
“Lowen?”
“Ah, sorry, Rominia.
I was just a little surprised because you moved so naturally.”
Romina quietly looked at Lowen before shrugging her shoulders.
“Well, it's not something you see every day.”
To someone who knew nothing about the existence of secret dungeons or Glenn's magic circle, the movements of Glenn's party looked nothing short of a gathering of heretics.
“Still, you'll find out soon enough.
It's useful to know about these things in many ways.”
“Is that so?
The concept of a hidden dungeon is somewhat unfamiliar to me, but if you say so, then I suppose it must be so.”
“There might be some dangerous moments, but the result will be satisfying.
So you should do your best, too.”
“I understand.
Thank you.”
Lowen looked at Romina and managed to form an awkward smile.
While Romina led Lowen and gradually helped her blend into the party, Glenn completed the magic circle.
What Glenn had created with a magic circle for the first time in a while was the Unlock magic.
It was a magic that activated a secret entrance connected to a hidden location near where the caster was standing.
Blue particles of light began leaking out in all directions from the completed magic circle.
Soon, they gathered in the center of the open area.
Then the particles of light gathered in the center began sinking beneath the ground.
Rumbleeeee—
With a tremendous roar, the ground opened, revealing a massive staircase underneath.
The hidden entrance connecting Denelsurt Mountain to the secret dungeon, Ark of Confinement, had been activated.
“Let's go.”
Glenn looked back at Romina, Ridenhall, and Lowen with a confident smile.
The party members also hardened their expressions and followed behind Glenn.
“Wow……”
Glenn could not help but let out an exclamation at the astonishing sight before him.
A vast cavern covered in deep darkness, resembling the interior of a gigantic cave.
At its center stood a huge ark shining with a golden light.
Party Dungeon, Ark of Confinement.
It was a dungeon designed for the latter half of the scenario, one that could be challenged by parties whose average combat power was at least at the Eight-Star level.
“Is this the Ark of Confinement?”
“I've never seen such a huge ship in my life.
Who in the world built something like this, and for what purpose…….”
Romina and Ridenhall were also overwhelmed by the magnificent scale of the ark.
“……”
Lowen, who had been following behind them, also stared at the ark in amazement.
She did not make a sound, but her constantly blinking red eyes clearly revealed her agitation.
Well, of course.
How could anyone not be surprised when such a gigantic ark was sitting inexplicably inside a huge mountain?
Compared to Romina, who had explored numerous dungeons while moving together with Glenn, and Ridenhall, who had created his own dungeon and rested inside it, Lowen's reaction was much stronger.
“Really… Glenn.
The more I see you, the more mysterious you become.”
“I just happen to know quite a lot.”
Of course, the things he knew were nothing but the hidden secrets of a world that ordinary beings would never learn, even if they died.
“Anyway, let's go inside.
We didn't come here just to sightsee, did we?
And you don't have much time.”
“Ah.
Understood.”
As soon as this dungeon raid ended, Lowen had to hurry and lead the First Legion out of the border area.
Even though they had used Penelope to keep the Demon King away from the front lines, he might return sooner than expected.
There was no reason to waste time unnecessarily, so they immediately entered the ark.
The inside of the Ark of Confinement was not made of gold like the outside.
Rather, fitting its name as a dungeon, it consisted of dark corridors with lights installed here and there.
Step, step—
Unlike the entrance areas of other dungeons, there were no monsters at the beginning.
Thus, the party proceeded without much caution and soon reached the end of the starting area.
Unlike the places they had challenged so far, four enormous doors had been arranged there to mark the beginning of the dungeon.
Ark of Confinement.
This place was designed so that each of the four party members passed through one door individually, overcame the trial waiting beyond it, and then reunited at the deepest part of the dungeon.
As befitted a dungeon from the latter half of the scenario, there was a particularly ridiculous rule.
If even one of the four trials failed, the entire party would die.
‘Even if I successfully clear my trial, if just one person makes a mistake, the entire party is wiped out.’
Yet there was not even the slightest hint of tension on Glenn's face.
