Chapter 171: Chapter 171
[You have entered the Shadow Dungeon.]
Gangseojutsu Training Center.
Ammut, who was sitting with his back in the depths of the pyramid, slowly opened his closed eyes.
[...] ...An uninvited guest came in.]
Seaaaaaa-
Suddenly, the dimensional door seemed to open, and an enormous presence entered the shadow dungeon.
But why?
To say it was simply an intruder, there was no feeling of any unnaturalness in the process.
'He' opened the door so naturally, as if he had entered his own house, and appeared in front of Ammut.
[you...Who are you?]
Ammut bared his teeth at the man.
The moment the giant crocodile man stood up, a tremendous sense of intimidation overwhelmed the man.
Coo coo coo coo...!
However, he remained calm, as if such a feeling of intimidation was nothing.
He nodded, scanning Ammut's appearance with interest.
-Ammut...Is it a family of factors?
[...] ....]
Ammut paused at the strange aura he felt from the man.
Her man was not looking at her and speaking.
His eyes stayed on his head, not his face.
As if there was something there.
[No way, you....]
Ammut's eyes lit up when he belatedly noticed that the black energy flowing from his man was strangely similar to that of the Holy Guardian.
[...] ...Are you the Shadow Lord?]
-no. To be exact, it's something similar to that.
[what?]
-You would know, right?
[What on earth are you talking about?]
Ammut frowned at the ambiguous answer.
However, despite that reaction, Seong Jin-woo's welcome met Ammut's eyes and showed a faint smile.
-So, magically, I am rather similar to you.
[...] ...!]
Ammut's eyes widened at those words.
As if it was an expected reaction, Seong Jin-woo's welcome turned his gaze to look at his surroundings with a calm expression.
His eyes pierced through Candiaru's incantation engraved on this pyramid.
Parbat! Pot! Pot!
Following that gaze, numerous magic circuits engraved throughout the pyramid flickered and gave off a ray of light.
[You can't believe it... ....]
Seong Jin-woo, who was appreciating the results achieved by the circuit diagram, opened his mouth.
-okay. Just like you, I am also a fake soul realized through witchcraft. There are some expressions that sound a little better, such as avatar or NPC, but in the end, they are all the same.
[...] ....]
Ammut's appearance reminded Jinwoo of the demon king Baran whom he had encountered on the top floor of the demon castle dungeon a long time ago.
Baran, the king of demons and the lord of white flames.
Baran was the only monarch he encountered who was not alive.
To be more precise, Baran had already been killed by Asbon, the first Shadow Lord, before meeting Seong Jin-woo.
Only the soul was recreated in Candiaru's hands and used for the level-up system.
However, the demon king Baran thus created was nowhere near his original power.
This was because the 'darkness of the beginning,' which could be said to be the source of the monarchs' power, had escaped.
-But I'm curious. How long have you been trapped in here?
[Crumbling.]
Ammut smiled and opened his mouth at the black eyes that seemed to see right through him.
[well. I don't remember. Because you can't tell the flow of time here.]
-Do you want me to kill you?
[what? Hehehe. This is the funniest joke I've heard recently.]
At those words, Ammut chuckled self-deprecatingly.
and.
Kwaang-!
He swung his huge arm and smashed the wall next to him.
The bricks collapsed around that area, creating a huge hole.
But strangely, after a while, the holey wall began to repair itself.
[Did you see it?]
Ammut's eyes looked directly into Seong Jin-woo's eyes.
[Even if you are the real Shadow Lord, I will never die. This is because this is my grave, and at the same time, myself.]
-It's a spell that automatically restores itself even if it is destroyed.
Seong Jin-woo nodded at those words, and his eyes deepened.
However, even if it was impossible for him, if he was his 'real' self, it was not a difficult matter to inflict death on him.
However, since I didn't ask him because I really wanted to kill him in the first place, I decided not to interfere with Seong Jin-woo's welcome any longer.
Rather, it was better to check about this place first.
About this pyramid that does not exist in 'Sung Jin-woo's' memories.
...This place was, so to speak, Candiaru's legacy.
There must have been many experiments in the process of developing the level-up system, and it was clear that this pyramid was one of them.
But what I was curious about was how on earth this huge magical device came into the shadow of Seong Su-ho.
'It is a system that is automatically restored even if it is destroyed.'
Soon Seong Jin-woo realized the reason.
-...Could it be that the level-up system, which has lost its purpose and is incomplete, is working to restore itself?
In fact, the reason for the level-up system's existence has long since disappeared. Because that goal was already achieved a long time ago.
In that situation, a new player named Seong Su-ho reactivated the level-up system.
Then the system started to repair itself.
In the same way as before.
No, to be exact... ....
-Are you revamping the system to suit the changing situation?
The purpose of the level-up system was, of course, to 'make players into vessels for the Shadow Lord.'
However, Seong Su-ho could not become a shadow lord no matter what.
So what is the purpose that the system is trying to achieve?
-Could it be a job change quest in itself?
The level-up system is complementing itself for Seong Su-ho's career advancement.
So Seong Jin-woo's welcome was certain.
The existence of an NPC called Ammut and all the results of interpreting the incantations engraved on this pyramid proved this.
-That's right.
When he finally realized that fact, he immediately burst out laughing.
I am anxious and excited about what kind of job my son will get.
If you think about it, it's not much different from the concerns of ordinary parents.
but.
-I'm sure I know what to do.
It was the moment when Seong Jin-woo, who had organized his thoughts, smiled.
Passyuk.
Suddenly, his body began to shake and the entity was about to disperse.
Like a radio wave that has lost its frequency.
Ammut, who was silently watching the scene in front of him, chuckled and opened his mouth.
[But you are better than me. I can't believe I can escape the realm of witchcraft and move freely, even if just for a moment. But I guess that's the end of it.]
Passyuk.
Seong Jin-woo's illusion looked down at his blinking hands and muttered as if it would go out at any moment.
-I know. I guess I should go back soon. Anyway, I checked everything.
As he gestured in the air, a system message appeared.
[Do you want to leave the shadow dungeon?](Y/N)
Ammut asked as he watched him turn without hesitation and walk toward the shadow door that appeared in front of him.
[But why on earth did you come here?]
-Why? I came here because I wanted to give his son some help.
[Crrrrrrr? So did it help anything?]
-Okay. a lot.
[for example?]
In response to Ammut's question, Seong Jin-woo's illusion stretched out his hand and touched the air.
Pabababat!
At that gesture, the magic circles engraved on the pyramid began to emit light at once.
Seong Jin-woo spoke to Ammut, who was standing tall as always in the center of the splendid magic circle.
-Ammut, your soul trapped here has been linked with the real soul in the sea of \u200b\u200bthe afterlife. Just like me now.
[...] ...What does that mean?]
-If you want, you can now become a shadow soldier.
[...] ...!]
Seong Jin-woo spoke with a mischievous smile towards Ammut, who widened his eyes upon realizing what those words meant.
-You don't want to rot in this prison forever, do you? If that's the case, then you should become my son's soldier. Ah, for that to happen, at least my son....
[Enough to get me... ...I need to become stronger. Much more than now!]
Quad deuk!
At that moment, Ammut's expression turned extremely enthusiastic, and he clenched his two huge fists.
He clapped his fists together and bared his teeth fiercely.
[Leave it to me. We will double or triple the intensity of daily quests in the future.]
-...I give him potions and order him to eat.
Seong Jin-woo became a little anxious due to the overflowing motivation that seemed to explode.
But if only Suho could endure that training and take on the real Ammut as a shadow soldier.
It was clear that the power of the Guardian Corps would increase significantly compared to now.
-Oh, and one more thing.
Sigh!
When Seong Jin-woo snapped his fingers, the pre-manipulated magic circle began to operate in earnest.
Coo coo coo coo!
[...] ...!]
Ammut looked embarrassed as the entire pyramid suddenly shook as if it would collapse.
Since he was one with the pyramid, he noticed that the size of the pyramid was getting bigger.
and.
Paaaaaaa!
The top of the pyramid.
A black ray of light rose vertically from its pointed center.
The light even pierced the dimensional wall and stretched vertically toward the distant universe.
[What is this?]
-This is a kind of insurance. It doesn't concern you, so don't worry about it.
With those words, Seong Jin-woo returned to where he came from.
[her....]
Ammut just stared at the place where he had disappeared with a helpless expression.
'How can something that is nothing more than an illusion have such power? ....'
While living for a long time, Ammut sometimes had such thoughts.
What if he, the most powerful person, followed the strong monarch and participated in the war?
Maybe we could have won the war.
[Nothing would have changed.]
* * *
[You have left the Shadow Dungeon.]
The moment Seong Jin-woo returned to Su-ho's side.
Suho's battle was also coming to an end.
Kwasik! Quack! Ku-kwa-kwang!
Suho's strong hands tore off all of Xavier's tentacles and grabbed the neck of the main body hidden in the illusion.
[Ugh. How could this... ....]
The main body of Xavier, a demonic illusionist who boasted of incredible illusions, was nothing more than an ugly skeleton.
Between those pure white ribs, Xavier's soul was emitting an evil light.
[This doesn't make sense...!]
Xavier gritted his teeth and glared at Suho.
Thanks to the activities of the shadow assassin Kira, the hunters who were bound by the illusion were breaking free one by one.
Then, Xavier's magical power, which seemed infinite, eventually ran out, and his illusions gradually lost their power.
However, even as Suho grabbed the back of his neck, he was hesitating to strike the final blow.
The reason is of course....
-What are you doing? I didn't finish it.
"...father."
Suho's eyes wavered at the sight of his father who had suddenly come to his side.
Although his feelings were admirable, what actually came out of Seong Jin-woo's mouth was the same reprimand as before.
-Just kill him. Don't worry about Dad.
Kuuk.
Suho's mouth was forced shut, piercing Xavier's ribs and destroying his soul.
bang!
[You have defeated the demonic illusionist Xavier.]
[Your level has risen!]
[Your level has risen!]
[Your level has risen!]
....
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