Chapter 256: Chapter 256

Chapter 256: Dragon's Corridor (1)

Gangwon-do Inje-gun, a deep valley within the rugged mountains.

This place, which should normally have been filled only with silence, was bustling with thousands of people and reporters.

Beyond the control line blocking the entrance of the S-rank Gate, 'Dragon's Old Castle', which had occurred in Korea, eight heroes attracting the world's attention appeared.

Cheers shook the mountain range.

It was understandable, as the faces of the members gathered today were so spectacular that the word 'Avengers' would pale in comparison.

The first ones to catch the eye were the white-haired veterans.

Korea's Rank 1 Swordsman, Sword Saint Seo Jinchul.

His sworn brothers and legends who once dominated an era: the Fist King, Divine Spear, and Poison Demon.

On top of that, the S-rank Hunter who crossed over from Japan, 'Sword Demon' Nakazawa.

The mere fact that these giants, who had either retired or should have been in other countries, were gathered in one place was a miracle in itself.

However, the place where the public's gaze lingered most hotly was the center.

"Hyung-nim! The cameras are no joke? I think we look a bit cool today!"

"Siwoo, be quiet. You're killing the vibe."

When Park Siwoo, the owner of the Holy Sword, acted frivolously, Kim Minwoo chuckled and restrained him.

Behind them, Han Siah, a priest with long, pitch-black hair, was staring only at Kim Minwoo's back with her hands quietly clasped like a saintess.

Korea's best Necromancer and the successor of Ilsung Group, Kim Minwoo.

He was the very person who had formed this nonsensical dream team.

"Mr. Kim Minwoo! Do you really think eight people are enough for this raid? Since it's a first clear, it seems highly likely it will change to an S+ Dragon-type gate!"

Numerous microphones were thrust over the fence.

Kim Minwoo soon opened his mouth with his characteristic leisurely smile.

He pointed behind him with a jerk of his chin.

The Sword Saint exuded a heavy momentum, and the Fist King showed off his massive fist.

"It's actually excessive. Honestly, I'm escorting these people, so aren't the monsters the ones to be pitied?"

Laughter erupted from the audience.

The reporter who asked the question was the same.

It was an S-rank Gate, the highest grade on Earth.

Furthermore, since it was a first clear, the difficulty would jump by half a step.

However, even considering that, there was no worry at all.

Just looking at the four old men standing on the podium now, hadn't they recently cleared an S-rank Gate in the shortest time, showing off their old age vigor?

"Then, we will be back soon."

A short and bold statement of departure.

As Kim Minwoo turned around, the seven awakened beings followed him as if promised.

Along with a massive wave of mana and blue light rippled.

[Entering the S-rank Gate, 'Dragon's Old Castle'.]

Light swallowed them.

[You are the first party to enter the Gate!]

[Difficulty changes to S+, Dragon's Corridor!]

Along with the message, the space shifted.

The dazzling light that filled their vision faded.

A cool and antique scent brushed past the tip of his nose.

When Kim Minwoo slowly opened his eyes at the smell, which was like stepping into an old museum or a cathedral, a scene hard to believe as reality unfolded before him.

A chuckle escaped him automatically.

This place was closer to a palace where mythical giants might reside, rather than a gate swarming with monsters.

The dizzyingly high ceiling was decorated entirely with lapis lazuli and gold, and marble pillars as large as houses lined both sides of the straight corridor.

Scenes of dragons flying in the sky and spewing breath were intricately depicted on the pillars and walls.

It was truly overwhelming magnificence.

A visual worthy of the name 'Dragon's Corridor'.

However, Kim Minwoo's admiration did not last long.

"...Where did everyone go?"

He looked around, but the party members who should have been by his side were nowhere to be seen.

Sword Saint Seo Jinchul, Han Siah, and even the frivolous Park Siwoo.

The seven companions who had been swept up in the light together just a moment ago had vanished as if it were a lie.

Only Kim Minwoo was left alone in the empty corridor.

Cases where a party gets separated.

Usually, it happens when someone else forcibly invades, or when the gate's format divides the party members.

It seemed like the latter case right now.

Since the number of entrants was still eight.

The sound of irregular heel clicks came from the other end of the silent corridor.

Kim Minwoo's gaze turned toward the source of the sound.

As the darkness lifted, someone revealed their appearance.

Dressed in a neat tailcoat.

However, it was clearly stained in places and showed signs of age.

His murky white hair looked disheveled.

The cane held in one hand trembled as if having a seizure.

"Heehee! A g-guest has a-arrived."

The figure looking like an old gentleman stopped.

Saliva drooled slightly from the corner of his mouth, and his vertically slit eyes, like a reptile's, glistened endlessly.

He looked like a madman.

"I, I must greet. N-nice to, nice to meet you? Meet you? Heehee!"

Instead of answering, Kim Minwoo narrowed his eyes.

There's no way that thing is human.

Then there was only one answer.

[Skill, Demon Eye (EX) is activated!]

[Species: Earth Dragon (Sub-Dragon State)]

[Armament Level: Just so-so.]

[Characteristic: One of the Guardians of the False Corridor. He compressed his body quite a bit. As a backlash, his mind is half-gone.]

[Thoughts on the Target: The crazy Sub-Dragon feels a slight interest in you. He is wondering how you got in here.]

It wasn't a simple monster.

It was a Dragon race that had lived for over a thousand years, taking the form of a human.

And a Dragon race old enough to meet the Demon Eye's hunting conditions.

'By the way, the Demon Eye's analysis content is a bit unique.'

Adding the modifier 'False' in front of 'Corridor'.

And compressing the body caused a backlash that drove him mad?

"B-By the way, h-how did you c-come here? Come? C-Curious! I am!"

It was at that moment.

Kim Minwoo reached out his hand forward....

With the heavy sound of armor, Cedric and Merhen manifested beside him.

―Huh? Minwoo, that guy is a bit interesting.

―That's not Polymorph, is it?

At Merhen's question, Artorias's mad eyes trembled violently.

"H-How, did you know? T-T-They said, it w-w-was, h-hard, to d-distinguish? Did they?"

―Idiot. Your circuits are a mess from forcibly compressing. I can see everything?

It was at that moment.

Before Artorias could even panic, Cedric rushed in like a thunderbolt.

The massive spear tore through space, aiming for his neck.

Artorias instinctively tried to block by raising his dragon scales, but the tip of Cedric's spear had already dug into his opening.

―A fool whose body only became strong.

The spear blade pierced through his collarbone in a single breath.

Before he could even scream, Merhen's magic poured down like heavy rain.

Flames and lightning swallowed him.

Inside the thick dust, the tattered dragon vomited blood and knelt miserably.

It was an overwhelming trampling.

"Hee, heeheehee! H-Hurts! A-A-All over, m-my body! H-Hot! Q-Quickly, s-stop, hurting!"

Along with those words, his body was seen recovering in an instant.

Kim Minwoo tilted his head.

With wounds like that just now, it wouldn't be strange if he died instantly, but this guy was getting up energetically instead of dying.

As if he were a zombie.

"Merhen, do you have any idea why he's like that?"

―Hmm... In my opinion... I think it's because he absorbed an excessive amount of life force? To the point of becoming a fool who can't even use magic despite being a dragon.

―It doesn't matter. He will die if I keep stabbing.

"True. You're right. Then... conversation is out of the question?"

―Probably not? He's just completely gone mad. That's not at a level magic can fix.

Then there was no choice.

Right after those words.

Kim Minwoo and Cedric rushed in simultaneously.

His body was bound in an instant by Merhen's magic.

And soon, his sword blew away the guy's neck in a flash.

Along with a fountain of blood, blue blood splattered in all directions.

[Level increases by 1!]

[You have eliminated the Guardian of 'Corridor 1'!]

[Remaining Dragon Race until 'Path of Growth' achievement condition: 7]

"It's not that difficult."

If there was anything tricky, it was just that his life force was quite persistent, his body durability was quite high, and he rushed in like a zombie.

Conversely, since he had become incredibly stupid, he wasn't a monster that exceeded S+ rank.

[The corridor returns to its original appearance!]

Along with the message, the gilding of the golden pillars peeled off, revealing dark red scars.

The heroic dragons in the murals were terribly twisted, transforming into slaughterers trampling and tearing apart living creatures on the ground. The ceiling was dyed in a dark red blood color, and the holy hall also instantly turned into a grotesque slaughterhouse filled with screams and despair.

'This is the original appearance?'

Dragons slaughtered living creatures?

And that guy Artorias was guarding it while distorting that memory?

'What benefit is there in guarding this?'

There were still many questions.

"About this corpse. The appearance is exactly like a human. Then, can this be used to craft a Bone Dragon?"

―Hmm... Maybe? Wait a moment.

With those words, Merhen reached out to the corpse.

With the sound of bones crushing and flesh bursting, the guy's corpse began to change slowly.

―I'm undoing the body's fixation. It's woven quite tightly, but... Done!

Merhen's eyes sparkled.

A massive dragon corpse covered in blue blood was visible.

―Phew! I succeeded, Minwoo!

"Well done, seriously."

He patted Merhen's head.

―Hehe. Ah, right. Since you said you'd use it for Bone Dragon crafting, I didn't fully undo the compression? Want to check?

As Merhen pointed, he reached out to the corpse.

At that moment, information appeared.

[Artorias's Compressed Corpse]

[A corpse made by clumping life force and all sorts of bodies together. If you make something with this material, it seems it will receive a large correction to durability.]

So, is this a kind of enhanced corpse?

He popped the dragon's body into his inventory.

It was at that moment.

The door in front opened.

[You can enter Corridor 2.]

Along with the message, a blurred figure was seen in the distance.

Soon, a familiar voice was heard.

The Sword Saint waving one hand with a bright face.

The massive Sub-Dragon at his feet was already closer to a well-minced lump of meat than a dragon.

The skill of keeping it barely alive, very exquisitely, was truly at the level of art.

"I was waiting. Come quickly and hit the last blow. You have to eat the experience."

A benevolent smile like a grandmother offering a spoonful of rice to her grandchild.

To think the mighty Sword Saint was treating an S-rank monster as a 'meal' and spoon-feeding it to him.

Kim Minwoo swallowed the overwhelming emotion(?) and drew his sword.

It would be impolite to refuse such kindness.

"Then I will eat well, Elder."

[Level increases by 1!]

As expected, the veteran bus was the best.

The ride comfort was so good it could tell a Rolls-Royce to go away.