Under the night sky with clouds covering the moon, monsters are rampaging.
Dream demons with mixed appearances of various animals like elephants, pigs, hippos, and dogs were entering people's dreams and plunging them into nightmares.
Monsters reminiscent of bats were spreading special ultrasonic waves, causing confusion in people's mana detection abilities.
Monsters resembling monkeys and eagles were attacking people with their quick mobility.
Also, werewolf-type monsters were lurking in the darkness, waiting for opportunities to ambush.
'And there are also crustacean monsters coming up from the sea...'
People who woke up in the middle of the night had to face all of these creatures.
Whoosh! Boom boom! Whoosh!
People kept setting off flares in the night sky to illuminate the darkness.
Flares were rising from other places too.
Not only the Korean conquest team but other conquest teams were also being attacked by monsters.
'Fortunately, everyone's awake. If we had been caught unaware, it would have been a real disaster.'
Before the regression, the conquest team that entered the 2nd floor suffered a big blow from a monster night raid while unable to deal with dream demons.
Eun-ha clicked his tongue while dealing with the monsters.
On the other hand, he instructed the conquest team.
"Prioritize killing the dream demons!"
If they let the dream demons they had managed to draw out into the real world escape now, it would leave trouble for later.
The conquest team, agreeing with Eun-ha's judgment, focused on subjugating them as much as possible.
At this time, Iriya and the supporters, who had an advantage in compatibility, played a big role.
'Next, we need to take down...'
Eun-ha looked up at the night sky.
Bat-like monsters and various types of flying monsters were flying around the night sky, looking for opportunities.
As a result, the burden on the conquest team inevitably increased even more.
Of course, people skilled in aerial combat and those capable of interception from the ground were dealing with them, but...
Whoosh! Boom boom!
Screech!
Unfortunately, the results weren't satisfactory.
The creatures were not only very quick but also acted quite intelligently.
People focusing on aerial combat, like Bae Su-bin riding a broom or Jo A-ra who had transformed La-ra into a fairy transformation and was wearing a dress with rose petals fluttering, fighting against the creatures, were struggling.
Rustle! Rustle rustle!
Growl!
People like Bong Gu-rae or Son Ga-yeon supporting the aerial combat from the ground were in the same situation.
They were frequently interrupted by werewolf-type monsters attacking stealthily while cloaked in darkness.
They couldn't properly demonstrate their skills.
So.
'I'll leave the dream demons to Iriya and the others, and I need to support the aerial combat.'
Having made his decision, Eun-ha immediately tried to transform the Phoenix cloak on his shoulders into wings.
It was then that Kaede caught his eye at the edge of his vision.
Swoosh! Whoosh!
Hoshimiya Kaede, taking steps as if dancing, her long hair fluttering.
She was dealing with monsters rushing at her with almost miraculous rapid-fire, supporting the aerial combat.
Eun-ha spotted a werewolf-type monster approaching her.
<Wubo>
It was too late to shout a warning, and it might even cause Kaede to make a mistake.
So Eun-ha kicked off the ground, instantly closing the distance with Wubo and moved behind her.
Almost simultaneously, the werewolf-type monster dropped its stealth and lunged at her.
Growl!
"...What!?"
Whoosh!
"...!"
He wrapped one arm around Kaede and pulled her back.
Naturally, she couldn't help but be startled as she entered Eun-ha's embrace.
For a very brief moment, she reflexively tilted her head back to look up at Eun-ha, her eyes wide open.
"It's okay, stay still."
"..."
To reassure Kaede.
Eun-ha spoke in a low voice above her head.
Meanwhile, he kept his eyes on the monster.
For Eun-ha, having embraced her, it was too late to respond to the creature's attack.
But he wasn't worried.
'You think you're the only one who can handle darkness?'
Having absorbed Baek Seo-jin's myth earlier, Eun-ha could now freely manipulate darkness.
Conveniently, it was pitch black around.
Eun-ha, manifesting his internal mana, easily called forth darkness and enveloped himself and Kaede.
Growl!?
As a result, the monster's attack was deflected by the darkness that had transformed into a solid material.
Eun-ha didn't stop there.
'Now it's my turn.'
Switching from defense to offense.
Eun-ha transformed the darkness surrounding them into sharp needles, piercing the monster.
Yelp!
The creature, stabbed in the chest without a chance to resist, died on the spot.
Eun-ha, not even paying attention to the creature disappearing into particles, checked on Kaede in his arms.
"Are you okay? Be careful."
"Uh..."
Hoshimiya Kaede, deliberately avoiding Eun-ha's gaze, hung her head low.
She replied in a trembling voice.
And she stammered.
"Um... Th-Tha..."
"Tha?"
"Tha..."
Kaede keeps getting embarrassed.
Eun-ha, noticing her intention to express gratitude to him, waited with a mischievous face.
Finally, with the tips of her ears turning red, she turned her body abruptly.
"Arigatou..."
She said thank you in Japanese.
Eun-ha couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"You can just say it in Korean, why are you speaking Japanese?"
"Sh-Shut up. It's my heart..."
* * *
As a result of the conquest team fighting hard, the situation was gradually being sorted out.
Eun-ha, who had been taking down flying monsters, assessed the battle situation from the air.
'I can leave the rest to Ara and Su-bin, right?'
Now he decided to help with the ground battle.
Eun-ha, circling the night sky once and descending, landed on the ground with his wings of fire spread.
Then he joined the people engaged in ground combat.
Kiki kiki kik! Kiki... ik?
"What's the point of pushing with numbers? You're no match."
He cuts down the monkey-type monsters that were rushing in, relying on their numerical strength.
Eun-ha, who easily dealt with them, lightly swung the Honghwa Sword to shake off the blood on the blade.
The monsters' characteristic blue blood splattered around.
"...Huh?"
It was then that he felt a presence.
Eun-ha turned his gaze towards the forest where darkness was thick.
Rustle rustle! Crack! Rustle!
"..."
Multiple presences with clear killing intent were rushing towards the conquest team.
'This movement...'
It didn't seem to be monsters.
Which means...
Just then.
"Woooaaaaaaah!"
[Eun-ha! It's a message from Player Ezekiel, the representative of the American conquest team!]
People from other countries' conquest teams jumped out of the forest, shouting battle cries.
At the same time, Jin Seo-na's urgent voice was transmitted through telepathy.
[People who have been brainwashed by dream demons are fleeing to our camp! He's asking if we can treat them humanely if possible, sorry!]
Only then could Eun-ha understand the identity of the people who had suddenly appeared.
They were players from the American conquest team who had fallen victim to the dream demons' brainwashing.
'No choice!'
Eun-ha, clicking his tongue hard, immediately instructed the Korean conquest team.
"These are people from the American conquest team! They're not in their right mind due to brainwashing, so subdue them with utmost caution!"
Subduing people from the American conquest team was undoubtedly a more tricky task than taking down monsters.
The Korean conquest team members all frowned deeply.
Nevertheless, following the instructions, they set out to subdue the Americans who were swinging their weapons without hesitation.
"I'll take care of this person!"
"Ah, understood! Be careful!"
Of course, Eun-ha joined in too.
Concerned about damage to the Korean conquest team, Eun-ha mainly took on opponents who were difficult to subdue.
The current opponent, a man wielding a greatsword, was no exception.
"Monster..."
The man growled lowly.
His bloodshot eyes, with veins popping out, were full of killing intent, and his voice was tinged with hatred.
Eun-ha, who had suddenly become the object of hatred, snorted.
"Calling a person a monster... You've completely lost your mind."
Judging from how he had been swinging his greatsword and threatening people earlier, he's quite skilled.
It would be dangerous to leave him be.
I need to knock him out quickly.
Eun-ha entered combat to subdue the man.
"Fuuuccckkk!"
"Don't swear."
The man showed a reckless side as he tried to kill Eun-ha.
But the greatsword swung by the man didn't even graze Eun-ha's clothes, repeatedly blocked by the Honghwa Sword and Twilight Sword.
Rather, unable to withstand Eun-ha's strength, he was pushed back or had to give up his stance.
And then...
'What's this? This person...'
The more he fought, the stronger he was becoming.
Eun-ha couldn't help but be inwardly surprised.
His eyes widened.
'It's not just my imagination.'
The man was continuously getting stronger even at this very moment.
He was growing based on his battle with Eun-ha.
'No, this is...'
He's learning.
That expression would be more accurate.
When that thought crossed his mind, Eun-ha realized.
'No doubt about it. It must be <Berserk>.'
The gift <Berserk>.
More precisely, <Endless (Berserk)>.
A gift that, once activated, prevents maintaining sanity until losing consciousness, but in exchange, increases learning ability proportional to mana consumption and activation time.
It was also the gift that symbolized Noh Eun-ha before the regression, known by the alias <Berserker>.
The man, caught by that gift, was expressing hostility towards everything in his sight.
'Come to think of it, there was someone in America with the same gift as me.'
How could the pre-regression Eun-ha have defined his gift as <Berserk>?
It was because there was a player in America with the same gift.
That man was right in front of him now.
'His name was probably...'
Blake Parker.
Eun-ha, recalling the man's name from his now faint memories, created distance for the first time.
He had to change his tactics to counter <Berserk>.
'I didn't expect him to participate in the conquest... This didn't happen before the regression. Did a butterfly effect occur? Wait, but if he has the same gift as me, he shouldn't have been brainwashed... Did he lose his sanity purely because of the <Berserk> gift rather than being brainwashed?'
But it doesn't matter either way.
He dismisses idle thoughts.
'I could end this in an instant, but that would be a shame. It's a learning opportunity.'
Eun-ha lowered his stance, taking a posture ready to charge at any moment.
"Monster... Monsteeerrr! I'm gonna kill them all!"
Meanwhile, Blake, engulfed in madness, was heading straight for Eun-ha without any hesitation.
Eun-ha raised the corners of his mouth.
"I keep telling you, I'm not a monster."
While calmly regulating his breathing, he manifests his internal mana.
He recalls the past that can never be returned, the memories from before the regression, chewing on anger, hatred, and regret.
'For <Berserk>...'
He turns that into an ember that burns his heart and soul.
He forcibly awakens the gift that's in a dormant state, unable to meet the activation conditions.
"<Berserk>."
Eun-ha activated the gift.
<Gift: Endless (Berserk)>
His heart starts beating rapidly.
His blood boils, and strength overflows throughout his body.
His vision turns red and narrows.
However.
"Don't get cocky."
He didn't lose consciousness.
Eun-ha immediately took a step and charged at Blake.
They collide.
───!!
The two swords and the greatsword clash, spreading metallic sounds.
They leave fast and dazzling trajectories, slow and heavy trajectories in the air.
Sound and light constantly reveal their presence.
And gradually...
"Damn it!"
The gap widens.
At some point, Blake Parker couldn't keep up with Eun-ha's speed.
He couldn't gain the upper hand in strength either.
The sword he swung recklessly was deflected by Eun-ha's swords so easily it was almost laughable.
Eventually, he even momentarily lost his balance and staggered.
Eun-ha didn't miss that moment.
'Now!'
He steps forward with his front foot, diving into Blake's space.
During that time, Blake instinctively moved the greatsword in his right hand.
Eun-ha raised the Twilight Sword in his left hand, preparing for the attack falling from above...
Whoosh!
He swung up the pommel of the Honghwa Sword, which he had been holding reversed in his right hand.
He struck Blake's chin with it, delivering a shock to his skull.
"...Kuhek!"
Blake stumbled.
He completely loses balance and collapses.
No, he faints.
"Thanks to you, I learned well. Thank you."
In a somewhat playful tone.
Eun-ha spoke to Blake who had fallen flat on the ground.
Unfortunately, the monsters' night raids did not cease even after the first day.
During their stay on the island, the conquest team had to face the creatures every night without getting proper sleep.
"It's an attack! Everyone wake up!"
"I wondered why they didn't come out today. I knew this would happen, damn..."
"Please, let us sleep!"
"Instead of dream demons today, it's an ant swarm... They're swarming everywhere. The sky and ground are all covered in ants..."
"There must be a nest somewhere! Let's find it and burn it down first!"
"Looks like we won't be sleeping comfortably tonight either..."
But the hardships they had to endure on the island end today.
Because they've gathered all the crystal ball pieces.
Upon hearing this news, the entire conquest team gathered at the designated location.
"We will now combine the pieces. Those who have crystal ball pieces, please come forward."
"..."
Albert opened his mouth.
Eun-ha and others who possessed the pieces gathered around him.
As they handed over the crystal ball pieces, the pieces combined into one with a bright light.
Whoosh!
The crystal ball was completed.
Albert infused mana into the crystal ball in his hand.
The crystal ball emitted light once again.
Whoosh!
"..."
The light didn't spread around but pointed in only one direction.
In other words, if they follow that light, they should be able to descend to the 3rd floor.
The path the conquest team needs to take has been determined.
"Each conquest team, please return to your ships and prepare for departure! We will set sail as soon as preparations are complete! We will enter the 3rd floor today!"
Albert announced to the conquest team.
With that, the conquest team turned their steps towards their respective camps to pack their belongings.
Eun-ha also decided to leave with his people.
During this.
"Hi, Eun-ha. How are you?"
"Ah..."
Ezekiel, the representative of the American conquest team, greeted him cheerfully.
Blake was also beside him.
'What should I do about this...'
Eun-ha waved at them and twitched the corners of his mouth to feign a smile.
Inwardly, he was perplexed.
Unfortunately, there was no one nearby who could interpret for him.
In the end, he decided to ask someone who seemed proficient in English conversation to interpret as a temporary measure.
"A-ra, I'll leave it to you."
"What? Leave what to me!?"
"Speak English for me instead."
"Whaat? No! Why me!? I can't speak English either! Ask someone else!"
Jo A-ra, startled and flustered.
She shook her head vigorously.
However, Eun-ha paid no attention and replied in a low voice.
"You seem like you'd do the best. Your hair is yellow, after all."
"Excuse me? What does having yellow hair have to do with being good at English!? And strictly speaking, my hair is ivory-colored!"
Jo A-ra was dumbfounded.
By then, Ezekiel and Blake had come right up to them.
Eun-ha whispered to her.
"Anyway, I'm counting on you."
"No... Geez... Hah..."
Jo A-ra, whose shoulder was suddenly grabbed by Eun-ha, couldn't escape and could only stamp her feet.
Finally, she messed up her hair and sighed with resignation and resentment.
"What should I say?"
"Ask Ezekiel what's going on."
"Hey, Ezekiel. What's up?"
"We were too busy before, so..."
"He says they were too busy before to properly thank you, so they came to greet you formally. Not Player Ezekiel, but Player Blake."
"I know, I heard that much."
"Ugh, then why did you ask me to interpret?"
"Because although I can understand roughly, I can't speak fluently."
Jo A-ra glared at him.
Eun-ha, avoiding her gaze, shrugged sheepishly.
Then he looked at Blake.
"..."
Unlike when he was caught by the gift <Berserk> and lunged at Eun-ha, Blake, now fully maintaining his sanity, exuded a gloomy atmosphere.
The dark shadows under his eyes and the corners of his mouth turned downwards added to that atmosphere.
Overall...
'He looks like he's carrying all the misfortunes of the world.'
So Eun-ha felt like he was seeing his pre-regression self through Blake.
At that moment, Blake called out to Eun-ha.
"Player, Eun-ha No."
"Player Noh Eun-ha."
Blake bowed his head.
He expressed his apology and gratitude.
"I'm sorry to bother you before. I heard that there are people who got hurt because of me. I'm ashamed... And... Thank you."
"He says he's sorry for causing trouble before. He heard that some people got hurt, and he's really ashamed. And also... he's thankful, for helping him then. If it weren't for you, he might have committed a grave mistake. Also..."
"Tell him if he's sorry and grateful to us, he should definitely repay us later. Say we'll keep this as a debt. And also that I'm glad he seems to be okay."
"Umm... How do I say this? If you're sorry and thankful..."
Jo A-ra interprets haltingly.
Eun-ha, listening to her English, recalled his memories from before the regression.
'Player Blake, like me, or rather like me before the regression, lost his family to monsters...'
That's probably why Blake's gift manifested as <Berserk> rather than <Brave> or <Heroic>.
Because he harbors hatred towards monsters, and soon falls into self-deprecation and self-denial, trapped in the past.
Eun-ha, who once lived a similar life, empathized with his feelings.
He felt sympathy for him, for his pre-regression self.
That's why he wanted to tell him.
"A-ra, please interpret this too."
"Ah, let's just greet and end it..."
"I'll give you one piece of advice."
"I advise you..."
Blake raised his head.
Eun-ha spoke towards eyes that seemed to be looking at him yet not looking at him, as if chasing something irretrievable.
"Don't get too buried in the past. Look at the present, look at the future, focus on the life ahead rather than the life that's passed."
"Uh... Um... Do I really have to convey this? It might just hurt his feelings unnecessarily..."
"It's okay, still do it."
"Sigh, alright. I'm not responsible for this, okay? Let's see, in English this would be... Don't stick to the past..."
How Blake will take this advice is up to him.
Whether his eyebrows tremble or not, whether his face shows agitation or not, or whether hostility rises in him or not.
Eun-ha turned his body as it was.
'I miss my family's faces. And the friends left in Korea too... Let's conquer this quickly and return.'
* * *
After Story 14. The Abandoned Ones
Time passes, and the conquest team advances.
3rd floor, exploring underwater caves and witch-hunting the 2nd tier deep sea witch.
4th floor, escape from the Siren's sea.
And 5th floor...
Booo!
"Damn, it's the horn sound again! Everyone prepare for a surprise attack!"
Survival in Davy Jones' sea.
The conquest team navigating through the thick foggy sea had to engage in battles with ghost ships that suddenly revealed their presence.
In the process, the damage to the conquest team was by no means small.
Boom!
"Where did that come from just now!? We need to respond too! Fire the ship's cannons!"
"Damn, we almost sank..."
Unlike the conquest team struggling to distinguish even allies due to limited visibility from the fog, the ghost ships accurately targeted their positions and bombarded them even in the fog.
As a result, the conquest team couldn't help but be extremely tense.
All the more so because ghost ships that appeared unexpectedly sometimes collided with them.
Swoosh... Booo!
"Hey, hey, hey, there...! We're going to collide!"
Thud! Screech! Screech...
"Kuk... When did it get so close?"
"The detection magic doesn't work properly because of the fog... This is bad."
"They've thrown grappling hooks! They're coming over!"
"Don't let them come over, quickl- Kuhek! Damn it..."
Rattle rattle! Clatter clatter! Rattle...
The ghost ships were mainly manned by skeleton-type monsters wearing pirate clothes.
These creatures, which engaged in close combat whenever they had the chance, attacked the conquest team until their given life was completely exhausted and they could no longer revive.
Sometimes monsters immune to physical attacks would appear.
Hee hee hee! Whirr!
"Wraiths have appeared! Everyone be careful!"
"Don't try to touch them! We don't know what might happen!"
"Casters, supporters come to the front!"
There was no time to rest comfortably.
Battles occurred at all times, day and night.
Because of this, many people were injured, and some eventually lost their lives.
And finally, at last...
"Ah..."
The fog started to clear.
The conquest team, looking up at the blue sky, couldn't help but be overwhelmed with emotion.
"D-Did we kill them all... Is this the end?"
"It's over, it's really over..."
"We survived... We survived, we survived!"
"Ah, damn... When did I get stabbed? I've been stabbed... Someone..."
"Supporters! Treat those in critical condition first! Hurry!"
"We'll rescue those who fell! Grab potions and follow me!"
"..."
They conquered the 5th floor.
They survived.
People who realized this fact cried, laughed, and felt relieved.
Meanwhile, those who still had strength left moved busily to deal with the damage.
It was during this that the dungeon guide appeared.
Congratulations on completing the 5th floor mission! It was truly a thrilling battle. Should I say it was a good spectacle?
"..."
The dungeon guide flew around, chattering in a frivolous tone.
But there was no way the conquest team would look kindly upon it.
When the conquest team didn't react at all, it, noticing the atmosphere midway, deliberately cleared its throat.
Ahem! Was I talking too much? Then... Let's stop the idle talk here! There's nothing more to see here, so let's move to the 6th floor immediat-
"Wait. Who said we're moving?"
Eun-ha quickly cut off its words.
He snorted mockingly.
"Do you know what might happen to us if we enter the 6th floor like this? We're planning to rest here thoroughly before moving, so don't proceed as you please."
Tch! Always so cunning...
"You're the cunning one."
Rest or not, do as you please. But you can't stay here long! When this world starts to collapse, we'll move to the next floor right away, so keep that in mind.
"Alright."
No one opposed Eun-ha's opinion.
The conquest team headed to the 6th floor as soon as they finished regrouping.
* * *
Lorenzo Mairon.
Born as the heir to lead the Mairon Family, he lived a life enjoying absolute power.
He could have anything he wanted, achieve anything he desired.
But after the Korea-Italy summit 20 years ago, when the Mairon Family was defeated in the struggle against the Valentine Family...
—From today, our Valentine Family will take charge of Big Mama's protection!
—Y-You young Valentine... You think you'll be safe after this...!
—Bang!
—F-Father!
The Mairon Family couldn't avoid decline, and by Lorenzo's generation, they completely collapsed.
Lorenzo had to live as a loser, having lost everything he had - wealth, power, force.
That's why he couldn't help but hate the Valentine Family, especially Albert Valentine, the boss of the Valentine Family.
"Ah, Albert Valentine..."
Lorenzo muttered unconsciously.
Splash splash!
"Ugh..."
The sound of waves hit his ears.
And his body felt heavy and cold.
As his consciousness gradually surfaced, Lorenzo fluttered his eyelids open.
"..."
The clear sky and blue sea came into view.
Then Lorenzo checked his own condition.
Currently, he was floating on the sea, clinging to a wooden plank.
"Why am I..."
The question didn't last long.
The scene before he lost consciousness quickly replayed in his mind.
'That's right, back then I got caught in the bombardment and...'
He had fallen off the ship.
And although he doesn't remember clearly, it seems he desperately clung to a wooden plank in an attempt to survive somehow.
'So... What happened?'
The fact that all the fog has cleared means the conquest team has conquered the 5th floor.
Then where are they?
He needed to request rescue from them.
Lorenzo hurriedly looked around.
"Ah..."
Only then could he discover people drifting like himself.
All wearing prison uniforms...
"S-Save me..."
"Those bastards..."
"They abandoned us and left..."
"..."
Through the people sobbing in despair, Lorenzo could grasp the situation.
The conquest team didn't save the prisoners who had fallen into the sea, didn't save them.
After all, they were just hindrances, existences that needed to disappear.
"Che cazzo..."
He couldn't help but swear.
Lorenzo couldn't help but feel despair, empathizing with the people.
At the same time, he hated the conquest team, and also...
"Albert Valentine..."
Albert Valentine, who had made him like this.
I want to kill him, I want to kill him.
Lorenzo shook his shoulders, shedding miserable tears.
At that moment, the dungeon guide appeared.
Oh, how pitiful. How could people do such a thing... How could they abandon their own kind? They're really mean.
"..."
The dungeon guide pretended to cry within the light.
Lorenzo blankly looked up at the dungeon guide.
Unfortunately for you all, the 5th floor will soon be closed. You will die with the closure. But... You don't want to die, right?
"..."
Of course.
How could they want to die?
Lorenzo and the others nodded as if entranced by the dungeon guide.
Then the dungeon guide's voice became lively.
I have a proposal for you all. If you want to live, belong to the dungeon. Although you won't be able to go outside, you'll be able to achieve anything you want while enjoying eternal life in the dungeon. And...
"..."
Don't you want revenge? Against those who made you like this. We'll help you, with your revenge.
"Ah..."
Of course, I understand your concerns. You might think what kind of revenge you can take with bodies that can't even properly manifest mana due to problems with mana circuits. But don't worry. If you just belong to the dungeon, you'll be reborn as new beings.
"..."
So what do you think?
It's an offer they can't refuse.
As people decided to accept the proposal without any hesitation, the dungeon guide, wrapped in light with only its silhouette visible, stretched its mouth into a long grin.
Good, you've thought well. The <Dungeon of the Deep Sea> will welcome your belonging.
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