Chapter 71
[You have cleared the ‘Pawn’ Room.]
Kugugugung—
With a dull rumble, exits revealed themselves in the four directions of the stone wall.
Do-yoon stroked his chin.
There was no need to hesitate long.
He entered through the southern gate.
‘Hmm.’
As his darkened vision returned, he found himself in a room that was eerily empty—an absolute void.
Unlike the previous chambers, the exit here was already open.
Once again, he stepped through a door on the right.
Fwaaash—
The yellow-brown floor rushed up to meet him.
And the moment he landed, they closed in from all sides—
Grurururuk—
Stone soldiers.
The same kind he had faced ad nauseam back on the first floor underground.
Do-yoon didn’t even bother to summon his Thunderblade.
[You activate Celestial Harmony Sutra (Epic).]
[The energy of harmony surges like a raging torrent.]
Pahshshshshsh!
A brutally destructive wave of ki.
When the storm had passed, the only thing left in its wake was drifting clouds of pale gray stone dust.
[You have cleared the ‘Pawn’ Room.]
‘So far, it’s exactly as Jung Min-tae described.’
A fighting style that pushed forward with sheer brute force.
An exterior that made it seem like even his brain was packed with muscle.
But he was not a man to be underestimated because of that shell.
‘His second-floor攻略 is worth referencing.’
[You activate Library of Memories (B).]
—Record of the Fourth攻略 of the Warlord’s Sealed Tomb—
Each room’s threats reflect the traits of the chess pieces.
The Pawn rooms are the stone soldiers from the first floor.
The Cannon rooms unleash concentrated barrages with artillery.
Beyond these are the Rook, Knight, and Bishop rooms…
……But the key to the second floor lies with the two “Kings” in the upper and lower palaces.
Even if you clear every room, you cannot advance to the third floor unless you slay the kings.
Indeed—
The second floor was a vast chessboard turned into a dungeon.
Each square was a maze-like compartment partitioned by stone walls.
‘……The X-mark in the center of the Cannon room. That’s where Cannons are placed on a chessboard.’
And likewise, the Pawn rooms had X’s as well.
Jung Min-tae’s攻略 was focused on two points:
-
Break through to the palace by the shortest route.
-
Enter the third floor with minimal losses.
But Do-yoon was carving out his own path inside it.
Just as he had exploited knowledge of the Centurions and Decurions’ positions on the first floor—assassinating commanders and raking in contribution points—
He would do the same here.
A way to maximize contribution.
‘Instead of wasting time bogged down with pawns…’
The corners of Do-yoon’s lips curled upward.
“……I’ll sweep up the expensive pieces instead.”
He unfolded the chessboard inside his mind.
‘South of the Cannon room was a Pawn room—that means this is the upper side of the board.’
The valuable targets were elsewhere.
Do-yoon pushed north, skipping past two empty rooms without hesitation.
Fwaat!
And then, clawing into his ears—
Kkigigigid—
Kkigigigik!
The sound of joints being forcibly twisted.
A massive shadow blotted out the ceiling.
A figure as tall as a building.
Shiny wooden plating covering its body.
A faceless wooden puppet exuded murderous pressure, crossing its twin blades.
In that moment—
Do-yoon’s Dark Core pulsed, spewing forth black mana.
[Necro-Codex (Legendary)]
└ Fourth Formula: Curse of Decay
└ Curse of Enfeeblement
Sssszzzz—
Blue-black energy draped its outer shell like a shroud.
The polished wood grotesquely rotted and decayed.
Crackle!
Do-yoon drew his arm back, then twisted his entire body—
Hurling his Thunderblade like a thrown javelin.
A slash that fell like lightning.
Kwaaajajajak!
The twin blades shattered helplessly.
The puppet’s torso split in half—
Its inner mechanism erupted in an explosion.
Kuuuuung!
Wooden fragments scattered.
Sparks burst in every direction.
[You have cleared the ‘Rook’ Room.]
‘A wooden puppet for the Rook? So they decided to be historically accurate after all.’
Ancient war chariots were indeed mostly wood.
He accepted the logic and scanned the four exits.
‘The Rook room lies on the right side of the board… which means I’m at the far right edge.’
Naturally, his gaze turned to the opposite side.
Taking the left exit, he crossed into the next space.
“Hihihihihiiiing!”
Lower body of a horse, upper body of a spear-wielding soldier.
A ring of centaurs tightened around him.
[Necro-Codex (Legendary)]
└ Third Formula: Resonance of the Abyss
└ Mana Bullet Barrage
Kwakakakakaka-booom!
[You have cleared the ‘Knight’ Room.]
There was no reason to slow down.
Riding the momentum, he charged straight through the western gate.
Do-yoon’s fist collided head-on with the beast’s horned charge.
Wajijijijik—!
Like a rhinoceros shell shattering into fragments.
The monster’s skull caved inward, and with control lost, its bulk toppled to the ground, shaking the earth.
[You have cleared the ‘Bishop’ Room.]
The kills came with overwhelming speed.
From here, if he went left, it would lead to the northern King’s chamber.
But in his head, faster methods of wiping out the Rook, Knight, and Bishop flitted through his mind.
Do-yoon chose the opposite exit.
‘Up, up, right, right, right—that should bring me back to the Pawn room earlier.’
He plunged southward.
[You have cleared the ‘Pawn’ Room.]
[You have cleared the ‘Rook’ Room.]
After seizing another Rook, he turned west.
[You have cleared the ‘Knight’ Room.]
[You have cleared the ‘Bishop’ Room.]
And with that, Do-yoon had single-handedly swept the entire right flank of the board of its valuable pieces.
‘Looks like Yoon Se-ha must have dropped on the left flank.’
In that sense, luck had been on his side.
Jung Min-tae went for contribution when convenient, but wasn’t obsessed.
Kang Il-ho and Lee Seo-joon prioritized conserving strength.
Even if they grasped the board’s structure, their goal would be the shortest route to the palace, not the high-value pieces.
Do-yoon now stood in the southern half of the board.
Fwaaat—
At last, he stepped into the chamber of the Sword King, the southern monarch.
A man whose massive frame rivaled even Jung Min-tae’s.
Seated upon his throne, unmoving.
Yet the oppressive aura that radiated from him was…
[Title: Hunter of the Strong (S) manifests.]
[Against S-rank foes: All stats +1, All power +2%.]
And flanking the throne, two silent bodyguards stood motionless.
[The final guardians of the palace, the ‘Guards,’ move.]
[The ‘Guards’ attempt to block your entry at all costs!]
Reacting to the intruder’s step,
The escorts lunged with perfectly synchronized sword thrusts.
Swishswishswish—!
Do-yoon’s figure split through their pincer strike as if mocking them.
[Lightning Strike.]
A bolt speared one guard’s shoulder, locking him in place.
Immediately after—
Puuuuk!
The Thunderblade pierced straight through the other guard’s heart.
“……!”
One wing of defense was broken.
Do-yoon twisted the blade and shoved it deeper, felling the last guard like an empty husk.
It was the true display of [Sword and Self as One].
‘……A duel between one who has become the sword and one who merely wields it as a tool. The result is inevitable.’
He adjusted his grip on the Thunderblade and advanced toward the Sword King.
But then—he felt a presence at his back.
“What, you even cleared out the guards already?”
A familiar voice.
It was the Demonblade, Yoon Se-ha.
“You’re late,” Do-yoon said briefly.
She seized on that tiny reaction—
Her lips curled into a sharp smirk.
“Then… the King’s head is mine!”
Tsussshhht!
She launched her footwork, skipping space itself, flying at the throne.
“……!”
The Sword King opened his eyes.
He gazed at the girl charging at him with an emotionless stare—
Swaaeeaaaak!
And without hesitation, he drew the massive greatsword strapped to his back, swinging it down.
Jjaaaaang—!
Hanwol and the greatsword collided, sparks exploding violently.
The crushing pressure of a mountain collapsing.
The enormous weight drove Se-ha back, but her stance did not break.
‘Strength beyond even a superhuman!’
Her eyes blazed fiercely.
“This is fun…!”
Do-yoon joined her with his Thunderblade.
Jjang! Jjaaaang!
Her silver-white sword aura and his blue lightning alternated, slashing the Sword King from both sides.
Srrrk, srrrk! Srrrk, srrrk!
Across the King’s armor, layer upon layer of scars etched by their blades.
Se-ha stole glances.
Each time, the deeper, sharper wounds—every single one of them—belonged to Do-yoon.
Her lips trembled.
A disparity she didn’t want to admit.
‘I can’t fall behind anymore.’
[Demonblade (Legendary)]
└ Fourth Form: Ghostly Wails Fill the Sky
From her hand, blood-red energy surged like veins, engulfing the blade.
—Kiaaaaahhh!
Shrieking wails rang out.
Twisted apparitions of souls writhed in the air.
Shaaak!
Hanwol carved deep into the King’s shoulder—
Kugugugugung!
And then, from above, tremors roared down through the ground.
‘The northern palace of the Sword King? So Jung Min-tae has arrived as well.’
[Thunderstep (Heroic)]
└ Fourth Form: Thunder Scar
Do-yoon kicked off the ground—
His figure vanished.
Crackle!
Wrapped in sparks, he appeared behind the Sword King, his Thunderblade charged with ultimate sword energy.
[Cloud-Slaying Sword Art (Legendary)]
└ Fourth Form: Severing Cloud
A streak of lightning plunged into the King’s spine.
“Grhhhhh…!”
Se-ha also struck from the front.
[Demonblade (Legendary)]
└ Fifth Form: Execution Slash
Tssssshhhhhhht!
The King’s vision turned blood-red.
[You have slain the Second Guardian of the Sealed Tomb, the Sword King!]
As the monarch’s body collapsed, the entire southern palace lost its balance and began to crumble.
Kruuuumble!
Chunks of ceiling rock crashed down.
Craaaack—
The floor split into countless fractures.
[You equip ‘Wings of Midnight (Rare).’]
Do-yoon spread black wings and glided down in ease.
But Se-ha plummeted into endless darkness amidst falling rubble.
And yet—none of it registered.
Not the collapsing stones.
Not the ground rushing closer.
Her eyes were fixed solely on one thing.
The status window glowing before her.
[Your contribution score is being tallied.]
‘Please, please, please…!’
But her desperate prayer was mercilessly shattered by the system’s cold message.
[Your contribution score is being tallied.]
-
1st: Hyun Do-yoon (51%)
-
2nd: Yoon Se-ha (22%)
-
3rd: Jung Min-tae (18%)
-
4th: Kang Il-ho (5%)
-
5th: Lee Seo-joon (4%)
“Uaaaaaaaah! Again…?!”
The cry burst from her pale lips.
As she fell into the abyss, she tilted her head upward.
From far, far above, Hyun Do-yoon looked down at her.
‘Why… instead of closing the gap…’
Her voice ripped out, directed at the unreachable man.
“…does it only keep growing wider?!”
