Asgard? The home of the gods in Norse mythology? Why did that word suddenly appear? Is this some kind of event? This novel incorporates many names and places from Norse mythology, so that makes sense.
Even so, I've never seen a monster say such a strange word before. Since this area wasn't mentioned in the novel, strange things seemed to keep happening.
But that's not the important thing. The most important thing is to get out of here safely. I released my grip and spoke to Baek Si-hoo.
"I've cast my skill, so hurry up and use it!"
"…"
"Quickly!"
Baek Si-hoo's jet-black eyes turned to me. For a moment, the image of the child I saw in a dream-like fantasy flashed through my mind—a child who looked like Baek Si-hoo, and a man. I tried hard to erase that image from my mind.
I just saw something strange while using my auxiliary skill. I wasn't sure if that child was Baek Si-hoo. With this thought, I looked back at Baek Si-hoo, who was attacking the altar.
"Ppii!"
"…Yong-sun?""Ppiii!"
At that moment, Yong-sun suddenly began to move restlessly. She paced back and forth in front of me, shouting loudly. For some reason, she looked very anxious. Meanwhile, Baek Si-hoo was still fighting the monster that occupied the altar.
Boom! Boom!
"Ugh…!”
Even though Baek Si-hoo's stats had increased, the fight did not end easily. The battle became even more intense.
"Yong-sun, come here…!"
"Ppii!"
I shouted, but Yong-sun didn't seem to hear me. I wondered what was wrong with her. Was she planning to fight the unknown monster with Baek Si-hoo? However, it didn't seem like she was heading to the altar. She looked alert, as if anticipating something approaching. Realising this, I tightened my grip on the gun I had taken out from my inventory.
Crack, crack.
But the strange sound came from an unexpected direction. I looked up in surprise. Cracks had formed in the ceiling above my head. Even within the maze, I could see it clearly.
"What is this…!”
"Ppiii!"
Thud, thud.
Eventually, the cracked ceiling collapsed. I stared in shock, then turned to see fragments of the ceiling about to fall on my head.
"Yong-sun! Baek Si-hoo!"
But Baek Si-hoo, who was still fighting, couldn't hear my voice, and Yong-sun didn't even look at me.
"Ugh…!”
Damn it. Is this how I die in vain? I couldn't bear to see the rubble fall on me and closed my eyes tightly. Even if I had defensive items, I don't know if I could survive such a large fragment with my B-rank body.
Swaeaeek.
“…?”
The sound of something cutting through the air reached my ears. Suddenly, something grabbed my body. When I opened my eyes wide because of the impending shock, my body floated in the air. Below, I saw debris falling from the ceiling, destroying the maze.
Boom, kaboomm!
"Ah…”
Sharp claws gripped my shoulders tightly. It hurt a little, but it was much better than being crushed to death by debris. I shouted as I felt emotionally touched.
"Yong-sik…!"
"Kkyau!"
Yong-sik flew around and flapped his wings hard.
‘As expected, Yong-sik is the only one for me. My precious one.'
I wanted to pet him, but this wasn't the time. Yong-sik grabbed me and moved us far away from the collapsing ceiling.
What on earth happened? Why did the intact ceiling suddenly collapse…? And where did Yong-sik come from? Could he have made it through when the ceiling collapsed? Then, the ceiling over there…
"The ceiling there was connected to the Muspelheim Dungeon?"
"Kkya!"
"No way…"
Yong-sik exclaimed as if affirming my whispered question. I looked with a grim face at the hard rock fragments and sand pouring down from the ceiling.
So, this hidden area lies beneath the Muspelheim Dungeon desert. That explains how I got here after falling into a hole. I stood there, dumbfounded by the simplicity of the structure, witnessing the merging of the Muspelheim Dungeon and this area.
[Muspelheim-SS207. The hidden area, ‘Realm of Fire,' will temporarily be accessible as an open zone.]
[Muspelheim-SS207. Due to the merging of areas, changes will occur to the boss monster.]
"Boss monster…?"
Listening to the system's voice, I was surprised by the mention of a boss monster and looked at the sand that was constantly flowing from the ceiling. Suddenly, the sand stopped falling, and something emerged from the cracked ceiling. My eyes widened when I saw it in the distance.
"A sandworm?"
It was too big to be called an ordinary sandworm. I could gauge its size even from a distance. Just by looking at its head, I could guess its enormity. The monster opened its mouth, revealing countless spikes. A status window appeared next to the gigantic monster.
[Sandworm King
Rank: ??
Level: ??
?? ?? ?? ??, ?? ?? ??
…]
“…!”
Sandworm King!
The boss monster of the Muspelheim Dungeon was different in the novel. Moreover, it wasn't even SS-ranked. With the Realm of Fire being converted into a public area, a completely different monster became the boss monster.
"Keeeek!"
"Argh!"
[System SS-207. A fatal error has occurred!]
[Fortune Pouch (B) failed to activate.]
[You are afflicted by the status ailment ‘Panic'.]
[The effect of Oily-tongued (C) has weakened.]
[You are afflicted by the status ailment ‘Panic'.]
[The Cat's Movement (C) has been nullified.]
I was helplessly struck by the sudden status ailment attack unleashed by the boss monster. Although it was just a passive skill that didn't pose much of a threat, it still felt unpleasant. My ears hurt as if they were going to tear.
"Ugh…”
I frowned and scanned my surroundings. Was there anyone who could stop the boss monster? Was Yong-sik the only one who fell from the desert? As I nervously looked around, I felt a strong aura somewhere. The Sandworm King had demolished the maze, and it opened its mouth angrily somewhere.
Sizzling!
“…!”
High purity flames lunged at the Sandworm King. Even from a distance, I could tell who the owner of the fire was. It was Sung Yoo-bin. Could she be fighting the boss monster alone? As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I spotted Kang Yoo-hyun battling alongside her.
The protagonist Kang Yoo-hyun and the heroine Sung Yoo-bin. This was a battle worth witnessing. Even if I don't give them intense skinship, they can get rid of the SS-class boss monster if I just touch them a little.
"Yong-sik! Over there…”
I tried to tell Yong-sik to go there, but for some reason, I felt ominous and kept my mouth shut. The strange and unpleasant feeling that has haunted me since entering this hidden area is beginning to resurface.
“…!”
Sure enough, I looked down and saw the area where the maze had been destroyed. Dark red energy began to emerge like a haze among the surrounding ruins of bricks and sand.
Is that strange monster that Baek Si-hoo fought not dead? Is it still alive amidst all that rubble? No, if anything, its energy seemed even stronger than before.
I frowned and looked alternately at the place where the Sandworm King was and the strange haze was rising.
What should I do? Should I defeat the boss monster first? Only then will the dungeon be cleared, and the portal open. So, I should hurry to where Kang Yoo-hyun and Sung Yoo-bin were.
But for some reason, I'm more drawn to the area where the maze was. It was probably because Baek Si-hoo and Yong-sun were buried there. They were probably both S-class or higher, so they wouldn't have been affected by the debris, but I'm still worried.
"…Huh?"
I widened my eyes as I looked toward where the haze rose. Until just now, only the suspicious dark red energy had been emanating from there, but now someone emerged through the rubble. Could it be that the ghost-like monster had revealed its true form? Frowning, I took a closer look at that area.
"Baek Si-hoo…?"
But it wasn't a monster that appeared there. It was Baek Si-hoo. There should have been black energy swirling around Baek Si-hoo because of his dark attribute, but now it was mixed with red energy. Moreover, I could feel the presence of that monster. Could it be that he…?
"Yong-sik! Let's go over there!"
"Kkyau…."
Yong-sik must have felt the strange aura too, because he seemed hesitant to leave. However, after urging him once more, he finally flapped his wings. Yong-sik and I immediately flew to where Baek Si-hoo was.
"Haa…”
He exhaled a hot breath. His whole body was burning hot. It felt like he was suffering from an incurable fever.
This kind of fever was a sensation he hadn't felt since he awakened as a hunter. No one had ever said a kind word to him when he lay bedridden like a sick bastard.
Baek Si-hoo gritted his teeth. The brain-burning heat made him unable to think about anything. He simply stood there, exhaling breath after breath.
Should he just turn to ashes like this? It was when the thought crossed his mind subconsciously—
"Baek Si-hoo!"
"…!"
"Pull yourself together, Baek Si-hoo!"
Someone was shouting his name. Baek Si-hoo slowly opened his eyes and saw a figure through his blurred vision. He blinked and called out the person's name.
"Han… Yi Jin."
Baek Si-hoo's voice sounded soft, like a sigh.
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