Arcanea was puzzled by the unexpected presence.
“Baalcherit….”
Arcanea repeated the name as if she loathed it.
She had heard there was an Arch Lich in this dungeon, so why was Baalcherit here?
“Why are you in this place, you wench?”
Arcanea had disliked Baalcherit for a long time.
Deep within her lay a deep-rooted inferiority complex toward Baalcherit.
She had nothing but the fact that she had been born with good blood, yet the sight of her receiving favorable treatment was intolerable.
It irritated her that forces naturally formed around Baalcherit merely because she was vampire royalty, merely because she was a 5-star.
By contrast, how hard had Arcanea herself worked?
She had labored so much to cultivate her dungeon and grow her forces, but there had been limits.
She had despaired at the reality that no matter how hard she tried, she could not catch up to those born with innate gifts.
That despair soon gnawed away at Arcanea’s pride.
If she had possessed such a background, she could have risen higher, so why did she have nothing of the sort?
At some point, even jealousy had taken root.
Even so, on the day she heard that Baalcherit had fallen, she felt an immense thrill.
On top of that, when she learned that Baalcherit had even fallen into debt with the Demon Realm Trading Company, her body felt so light she could have flown.
Of course. She thought it suited the end of someone who had no ability at all.
Now all attention would surely turn to her.
The Succubus Queen had vanished long ago, and Baalcherit had collapsed.
So in the social circles hosted by the trading company, Arcanea thought she would become the protagonist.
Until someone called an Arch Lich suddenly appeared, that is.
Arcanea had grown jealous of the Arch Lich as well, for stealing the attention that should have been hers.
That was why she had come to this dungeon to eliminate the Arch Lich, only to find not the Arch Lich she expected, but that wretched vampire wench instead.
“…….”
Arcanea thought in silence.
First, she had to find out why Baalcherit was here.
As far as she knew, Baalcherit should have been bound to the trading company because she had failed to repay her debt.
Yes, someone who should clearly have been at the trading company—why was she here?
The first word that came to mind was trap.
It had been the Demon Realm Trading Company that had first spread information about this dungeon.
And if one were to be precise, it was also the Demon Realm Trading Company that had started things by saying there was an Arch Lich in this dungeon and setting them against each other.
‘No way….’
Had the trading company made a move to lure her out?
But Arcanea shook her head.
If the trading company intended to discipline her, would it have done something so troublesome?
They had even provided her with an elixir that forcibly raised her to 5-star.
To begin with, if the trading company moved against her, the difference in power was so vast she would be unable to lift a finger, so there was no reason for them to go around in circles and do something this bothersome.
‘Then there’s only one reason.’
Something had happened at the trading company.
Because of that, Baalcherit had escaped, and the Arch Lich had intercepted her midway.
‘Looking at it this way, I understand why the trading company hates the Arch Lich.’
To be precise, it was more Administrator Serinu’s will than the trading company’s. However, in the current situation, there seemed no need to distinguish between them.
At the same time, Arcanea was busily calculating the current situation in her head.
If the Arch Lich really had intercepted Baalcherit with the intention of rebelling against the trading company….
‘Then can’t I just resolve that?’
If she could resolve the current situation, it would be the same as putting the trading company deeply in her debt.
If she dealt with their headache, it would be no exaggeration to say the trading company would support her with open arms.
With the trading company at her back, creating a powerful dungeon and force would no longer be just a dream.
Going further, she might even be able to interfere with the nations of humans.
Arcanea adjusted her stance, dreaming of a future laid out like a path of flowers.
“Hoo.”
Her current strength had increased dramatically.
With the power she possessed now, she should be able to face not only the Arch Lich, but also that wretched vampire wench.
No, she would not merely subdue her—she would overwhelm her.
All those times of emptiness she had felt until now.
At last, the chance for revenge had come.
“I will show you the difference in power.”
Madness tinged her voice as she spat the words like a growl.
No sooner had she finished speaking than Arcanea charged toward Baalcherit with lightning speed.
Bang—
Her tail, swung with all her might, struck Baalcherit in the torso and sent her flying.
Baalcherit’s body hit the wall and tumbled down amid the fragments.
Bang— Thud—
Without mercy, Arcanea pounced and struck Baalcherit, who was buried in the wall, with her tail.
The wall collapsed, and dust billowed up.
“Kehuk… Cough….”
Seeing Baalcherit staggering as she coughed, Arcanea felt exultation.
“Wh-what is the meaning of this! Who are you to attack this body!”
Baalcherit gasped, blood pouring from her mouth.
“Hahaha! You don’t recognize me? Well, I suppose my existence was never even in your consideration to begin with.”
Baalcherit could not grasp the situation after the sudden attack. But that reaction only fueled Arcanea’s anger even further.
Arcanea sank her fangs into the nape of her neck.
“Kyaaaak!”
Bright-red blood surged up.
The lamia’s poison began spreading through Baalcherit’s neck and into her entire body.
Watching her writhe from the pain of the spreading poison, Arcanea burst into laughter, intoxicated with triumph.
Looking down at her fallen opponent, Arcanea grew even more triumphant.
“Kruk, where do you think you’re going? You were only this much, and yet you acted so high and mighty? Now a wench like you is no match for me. Do you understand?”
Bang— Bang—
Her tail, lashing out with tremendous force, slammed into Baalcherit’s abdomen.
Dark blood spilled from her mouth.
“Kek….”
Baalcherit’s wretched state as she cried out in pain again and again brought Arcanea the greatest pleasure.
She continued attacking, unwilling to give Baalcherit even the slightest moment to rest.
As Arcanea attacked without pause, she could not hide her excitement at the sight of her opponent growing weaker and weaker.
Bang—
Her tail kept striking Baalcherit down.
“To think I felt jealousy!”
Bang—
“Toward a wench like this!”
Bang—
She could not control the rage and hatred boiling up inside her.
Bang— Bang—
The wall collapsed, and blood splattered.
Toward Baalcherit, who did not seem to have the strength to counterattack at all, she burst into mad laughter and drove in her claws.
Now all that remained was the final blow.
As if looking down at prey awaiting death, Arcanea smiled and bared her fangs.
“Now, try saying it. Beg me for forgiveness. Who knows? I might let you live. Kkkk.”
She laughed cruelly and grabbed Baalcherit by the hair, lifting her up.
But her opponent’s mouth remained firmly shut, and all she did was let out groans.
Baalcherit, who had once been the object of her jealousy, had been miserably crushed by her attacks.
Though she had received the trading company’s help, this incident would greatly change the state of affairs.
“…How boring.”
At the sight of an opponent who could do nothing, her interest cooled.
Now all that remained was to sever this ill-fated connection.
Just as she was about to laugh cruelly and sink her teeth into her opponent’s neck.
Baalcherit rose from the floor.
“……!”
No, something was strange.
Her movements as she stood were unnatural, as if someone were controlling Baalcherit.
At that moment, Baalcherit’s eyes opened.
In an instant, her pupils were dyed a deeper red than before. A crimson radiance, more intense than the color of blood, flashed forth.
That was not all.
The fresh blood scattered around them rose into the air. It writhed like a living creature and began to be absorbed into Baalcherit.
“Wh-what is this…!”
Arcanea retreated, gripped by shock and fear.
Baalcherit’s body, which had been ruined by her attacks, was recovering.
Her wounds closed, and her broken bones found their proper places.
Baalcherit slowly tilted her head.
Eyes burning bright red, blond hair flowing down wildly.
Her appearance was the same as before, yet subtly different.
Her expression seemed arrogant.
It was certainly an irritating expression, yet fear came first.
“N-no….”
Sensing instinctive danger, Arcanea screamed.
But it was already too late.
Whoosh—
In the blink of an eye, Baalcherit seized Arcanea by the throat.
Looking at Arcanea’s deathly pale face, Baalcherit opened her mouth in a low voice.
“To dare lay a hand on Our descendant… How foolish.”
Her cold, gloomy voice was like that of another being.
“Hrk… Hngh…!”
Toward Arcanea, who groaned as her throat was crushed, that “being” cast a merciless gaze.
“That is not blood the likes of you may touch.”
With a single gesture, the scattered blood whirled.
“You must pay the price for that sin.”
A red wave of blood spread in every direction, dyeing the entire area crimson.
A red dominion, like the blazing of hellfire, swallowed the whole space.
Arcanea was terrified by the scene unfolding before her eyes.
Her entire body trembled, and cold sweat ran down her forehead.
Her breath came out in ragged bursts, and it felt as if her heart would burst.
“Th-this can’t… How…?”
So overwhelmed by fear, she could not even string together a proper sentence.
All she could do was stare at the being before her with a trembling voice.
And that being stretched out a hand.
The surplus blood began to gather.
The droplets of blood writhed as if alive, merging together to form a massive shape.
Emitting a red glow, the fresh blood took the form of a gigantic scythe.
“You were arrogant, child.”
A being who called a 5-star lamia a child.
Before that overwhelming aura, Arcanea was frozen in fear and could not say a word.
“Taking pity on your circumstances, I shall sentence you to a merciful death.”
Along with the frigid voice, the scythe formed of blood was aimed at Arcanea’s neck.
“P-please… spare my life….”
What was merciful about killing her in the end!
There were many things she wanted to say, but she could say nothing.
Tears flowed from Arcanea’s eyes.
Why on earth had this happened?
Where had it gone wrong?
Why did she have to meet such an end?
Her thoughts could go no further.
Because in the blink of an eye, the scythe cleaved through the air.
With the sound of wind, Arcanea’s head was cleanly severed.
Her head flew through the air and fell to the ground.
At that moment, red mist exploded from Arcanea’s torso.
Her body burst apart in every direction.
A stench of blood so intense it was hard to breathe filled the surroundings.
After that, the bodies of the other lamias also burst apart in succession.
Blood-red mist rose from all around.
Before long, the floor was soaked in blood, forming a crimson pool.
It was a horrific scene of slaughter.
“…….”
The being raised a hand and gathered the blood scattered on the floor.
The droplets of blood merged into one, transforming into the shape of a small bead.
It was Arcanea’s soul stone.
Its grade was a staggering 5-star.
The soul stone slowly floated up and was drawn into Baalcherit’s fingertips.
“How boring.”
The being looked up at the ceiling for a moment, then gave a bitter smile.
Soon after, Baalcherit’s body collapsed to the floor.
* * *
- All intruders have been repelled!
“It ended faster than I thought, didn’t it?”
Until just a moment ago, I had been watching Arcanea, the leader of the invading lamias.
The problem was.
“Nothing happened on the second floor, right?”
After Arcanea headed to Area 1 of the second floor, she fought a tremendous battle with Baalcherit.
No.
Rather than a battle, it was more like she unilaterally displayed overwhelming power.
Before that power, Baalcherit had simply collapsed helplessly.
And yet Baalcherit had not given up.
Just when I thought it was over, the moment she got up and charged—
“Is it a bug?”
The screen turned red.
The other areas were clearly displaying normally, but only the place where Arcanea and Baalcherit were had turned red, and I could see nothing.
“Still, I’m glad it ended well.”
As a result, we repelled all the intruders and defended the dungeon.
Baalcherit must have defeated Arcanea.
‘She’s much stronger than I thought.’
To get up again after being beaten that badly—her tenacity was incredible.
As I was thinking that, another alarm rang.
- Baalcherit (★★★★★) wishes to submit to Lee Ganghyeon’s dungeon. Will you permit this?
- [Yes] [No]
“Huh?”
Why is Baalcherit trying to enter my dungeon?
I was dumbfounded by the sudden reward.
And a 5-star monster at that.
“Should I accept this?”
At first, when Baalcherit visited the dungeon and these incidents occurred, I had been suspicious.
I wondered if Baalcherit had actually come to the dungeon disguised as a spy.
I had deliberately ordered Celia to assign Baalcherit to an area, but now that no longer meant anything.
The screen had turned red so I couldn’t see, but judging by the circumstances, Baalcherit had indeed defeated Arcanea.
“Well, if I’m getting a 5-star for free, I have no reason to refuse.”
However, I still hadn’t forgotten that she had rejected my offer to make her my deputy at the beginning.
“We still don’t have trust, so relay that support is to be kept to a minimum.”
“Clack!”
Maru moved his jaw and made a cheerful sound.
Come to think of it, how many 5-star monsters are in my dungeon?
‘The Death Knight and the Goblin Lord. And Necros and Baalcherit too.’
There were four 5-stars.
Including Celia, who was 6-star, there were a total of five monsters that were 5-star or above.
There were more than I expected.
Just as I was wondering how to use them from now on.
- The number of monsters within the dungeon that are 5★ or above has reached a certain threshold.
- A special reward will be given!
- You can create a satellite dungeon.
- A satellite dungeon must include at least one monster of 5★ or above.
- Upon creating a satellite dungeon, you will be given a 4★ Monster Summon Selection Ticket as an additional reward!
A new alarm appeared.