Episode 229: The World’s Largest Dungeon
Dasha’s words stirred the gathered Seekers, their murmurs swelling into a wave of cheers.
“Let’s do it! We’ll conquer Dvarapala!”
“We’ll kill every last one of those insects!”
“We’ll come back alive, no matter what!”
The valiant voices echoing around him made it clear just how much determination and resolve these people possessed.
Yuma lifted his face, his own spirit renewed.
“As we decided beforehand, you’ll be divided into two groups. Those providing rear support, come to me. Those entering the Dungeon, gather around Kaira.”
Urged by Dasha, the Seekers began to organize themselves.
Kaira was the leader of the conquest team. Formidable-looking Seekers gathered before her. Naturally, Yuma and his friends headed towards Kaira as well.
He noticed Anik, the elderly Seeker, among them.
“He’s really going into the Dungeon…”
Though slightly concerned, Yuma figured that if he was chosen for this group, he must be quite skilled.
Gathered around Dasha for rear support were seven Messiahs and the Seekers supporting them.
It seemed the Messiahs wouldn’t be entering the Dungeon after all.
If his Recovery Magic had been known, he might have been assigned to rear support as well. Yuma breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t.
Dasha approached Yuma and his friends.
“Could I have a word with you three?”
The three were taken aback by the sudden call, but Rui responded with, “What is it?”
Dasha stood before them and cleared her throat.
After making sure no one was nearby, she spoke.
“I hesitated to tell you this, but I thought you should at least be aware.”
Question marks lit up in Yuma’s mind.
“Apparently, we received information from someone who came from northeastern India, saying that local residents have seen many [Red Dragons] flying in the sky.”
“Red Dragons?”
Akito’s brow furrowed.
“Could it be…”
At Rui’s words, Akito nodded. “Yeah. The Ancient Dragons that escaped. Some supposedly returned to the [Red Dungeon] in Japan, but the rest are missing. They were in India?”
“But India is [Green Lord]’s territory. Would they really approach?”
“There’s no way for us to understand what Monsters are thinking. But if we end up fighting them, they’ll be troublesome opponents.”
Seeing the serious expressions on Rui and Akito’s faces, Dasha interjected.
“Well, this is just a rumor. But you guys know more about ‘Dragons’ than we do, right? Just keep that information in mind.”
Dasha patted Akito on the shoulder and returned to the Seeker Clan providing rear support.
After the teams were formed, they prepared to depart immediately.
Since it was a mountain path, they couldn’t use vehicles and had to travel on foot.
“How many kilometers is it to the Dungeon from here?”
Akito grumbled as he walked. The white bag he was carrying looked quite heavy.
“About ten kilometers from here, I think. We should arrive in about three hours, assuming we don’t encounter any Monsters.”
“Three hours…”
Rui’s words made Akito grimace. Gae Bolg was a powerful weapon, but its size made it difficult to carry.
Yuma couldn’t help but worry if Akito would collapse before they even reached the Dungeon, especially on this mountain path.
They walked for over an hour, but no Monsters appeared.
It seemed that burning them all to ashes with “Fire Magic” had been effective.
Three hours later, Dasha called a halt to the procession. Yuma was about halfway down the line, so he couldn’t see what was happening in front.
The crowd of people blocked his view, but it seemed there was a vertical Hole gaping open at the foot of the mountain.
“That’s the Green Dungeon, ‘Dvarapala’…”
The formation broke as everyone walked forward. Yuma swallowed hard as he caught sight of the Hole.
It was enormous.
“It’s huge, as expected. Truly the world’s largest Dungeon.”
Akito placed his white bag on the ground, grinned, and pulled out Gae Bolg.
He placed the massive spear on his shoulder and walked towards the edge of the Hole.
Yuma and Rui followed behind him. The Hole was probably about forty meters in diameter. Inside, there was a gentle slope leading downwards.
“It’s completely untouched by nature. Doesn’t the government manage it?”
Yuma asked Rui, curious.
“This Dungeon is too dangerous. They can’t manage it even if they wanted to.”
“I guess so,” Yuma conceded. The Hole was located on uneven ground, overgrown with lush weeds.
Akito crouched down and peered into the Hole.
“The inside is probably much bigger than this Hole. It’ll take a while just to explore it.”
While Yuma and his friends were talking, Dasha stood before the Seekers.
“We’ll enter immediately and begin the advance. The conquest team, form up!”
Everyone began to move. They split into two groups: one following Kaira, and the other remaining here with Dasha.
The order of the conquest team was clearly defined, with the Seekers responsible for the lower levels at the front.
The Seekers responsible for the middle levels were in the middle.
And Yuma, his friends, Kaira, and Anik, the [Peacock King (Mahamayuri)], brought up the rear.
“Here we go…”
Yuma’s resolve tightened as he watched the procession gradually depart from the front.
He noticed Dasha looking at them with concern. Her gaze was fixed on Kaira. She must be worried about her sister.
The rear support unit led by Dasha would heal the injured and provide support up to the lower levels.
Therefore, the deeper they went, the less support they would receive. They had considered bringing some Messiahs along, but…
“Looks like the Messiahs are staying behind after all.”
At Akito’s words, Rui nodded.
“It’s too dangerous to bring Messiahs on a full-scale Dungeon Conquest. They used to participate in Depths Conquests in the past, but they died in most cases.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. We have Yuma here, so we’ll manage somehow.”
Akito patted Yuma on the shoulder and gave him a smile, saying, “I’m counting on you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Yuma thought about what he could do. One was healing with “Recovery Magic,” which could heal even severe injuries.
And the other was defense and attack with “Wind Magic.”
The Wind Barrier was still weak, but he could at least create one in front of him. And if he used Wind Magic with his Variable Pickel, he could unleash a reasonably strong gust of wind.
He had to overcome the middle levels using these two magics.
It was finally Yuma and his group’s turn to advance. “Alright! Let’s go,” Akito said as he started walking, with Yuma and Rui following behind.
The Dungeon Conquest of “Dvarapala” had finally begun.
◇◇◇
Dungeon Level One. They descended the gentle slope and stood on flat ground.
It was a place where plants grew everywhere. The surroundings were dimly lit, and the walls and ceiling were made of dirt, with tree roots growing in places.
Upon closer inspection, there was also moss of a strange color growing.
The procession advanced along the left wall. Yuma touched the dirt wall to feel its texture.
It was hard, clay-like soil. Yuma clapped his hands to brush off the dirt.
“No Monsters yet.”
As Yuma muttered, Rui said, “No.”
“It seems we’re already surrounded.”
“Huh?”
The next moment, a loud voice came from the front. A scream-like cry, and a roar-like voice reached his ears.
Had the battle already begun!?
“We can’t let our guard down either.”
At Rui’s words, Yuma looked around. From beyond the dimly lit Dungeon, numerous shadows approached. They had red lights in their eyes and slowly came towards them.
“Insectoid Monsters… We have no choice but to fight!”
Yuma readied his Variable Pickel and channeled “Wind Magical Power” into it.