Into the Lair
Among the blessings bestowed by the ancient guardians of the old kingdom, the Blessing of Shield and Flame greatly enhanced elemental resistance.
Because of that, I was able to shake off Sensory Reversal much faster than expected.
[Evasion Technique: Gale's Commission]
In an instant, I boosted my movement speed and hurled myself into the cave's entrance as if sucked in by a vortex.
My eyes immediately locked onto something gleaming faintly in the darkness.
The Golem's Core.
The magical power source that animated this massive stone construct like a living being.
I aimed my sword straight at the mana stone.
– No! When did you—?!
The Stone Golem roared, swinging its arm to grab me—
Crash!
But the blade pierced its core before it could react.
The core shattered easily, almost anticlimactically—
the magic engine left utterly defenseless.
KRRRHHH…
The stone arms flailed briefly before collapsing to the ground.
And then came the system message.
['Giant Stone Golem' has been defeated!]
[Chain Quest 'Four-Dragon's Nest' has been updated.]
[Check the updated quest information.]
I didn't even need to look.
As expected of a chain quest—it had simply advanced to the next stage.
***
[Chain Quest] The hero who opens the hidden gate of the dragon race will willingly face whatever dangers await within—even if it means bearing the irreversible curse of dragons.
Previous Objective: Break through the entrance
Current Objective: Enter and Survive
***
There was something meaningful hidden in that update.
During the entrance breakthrough phase, there were no special conditions.
But now, in the entry phase, the new condition "survive" had been added.
In other words, entering the lair was only half the battle.
Staying alive inside would be no less difficult.
And now that the game has become reality, survival is more critical than ever.
…Though for me, it was already a part of daily life.
"Phew…"
As I brushed the dust from my cloak, Kals and Tyrbaen stumbled toward me.
"Well fought, Your Highness."
"My pupil, did I… perhaps put too much mana into it?"
Both of them still reeled from the aftereffects of Sensory Reversal, swaying adorably as they tried to regain balance.
"No, no, you did fine…"
I trailed off mid-sentence, noticing something odd.
It was Kals's eyes.
Zzzzt—
His blue irises glowed like brilliant sapphires.
A sudden anomaly.
Tyrbaen and Kals themselves didn't seem to notice, chatting casually.
"…I see."
But I could see it clearly—
and I knew what it meant.
['Kals Silion' is on the verge of ascending to 7-Star Rank.]
[A moment of enlightenment is required.]
Kals was about to step into the realm of the 7-Star Knights.
That was thanks to the huge surge of experience we'd gained from defeating the Stone Golem.
That energy was propelling him into a new stage of mastery.
And as for me—
…I'm in a similar situation.
[A massive amount of experience has been absorbed!]
[New title acquired: 'Core Seeker!']
My experience bar was almost full as well.
Soon, I'd level up too.
Sure, players level up all the time…
But this one was special—
a true turning point.
I was now Level 29.
Just one more to thirty…
Reaching Level 30 would unlock a new Fate Card Draw—
the fourth shuffle.
And this time, it wouldn't be a solo draw.
Why? Simple.
Because I still haven't used my third shuffle.
I'd earned it back when I reached Level 20,
right as Eve and I were heading toward the Orc Shaman's cave.
[The selection of the third Fate Card has begun.]
That message had appeared then—
but I postponed the draw.
I didn't have the focus for it, and pulling a card then wouldn't have changed much anyway.
– I'll draw later!
[Fate Card selection paused. It can be resumed anytime.]
[The third Fate Card awaits your choice.]
So now, I could perform the third and fourth shuffles together.
Especially since players who reach Level 30 receive a special event.
…Heh. Just thinking about it gives me chills.
That's why this level-up meant so much.
I didn't know what kind of cards I'd pull this time,
but…
At the very least, I'll have enough potential to push my Mercenary Gladiator class up to B-rank.
And if things went well—
This time, I might finally reach A-rank. For real.
Kals would ascend to 7-Star.
I'd break past C-rank.
That moment was almost within reach.
***
The updated objective: Enter and Survive.
In other words—step inside, and live.
The first threat awaiting us was the maze-like cliff passages that twisted unpredictably.
Narrow gorges carved in bizarre shapes wound and broke apart, making every step a risk.
But I walked briskly along the cliff's narrow ledge,
while the two behind me looked increasingly uneasy.
"Y-Your Highness, you're too fast!"
"Please slow down, sire! Lady Sui is struggling!"
They had a point—
a single misstep meant plunging straight into the abyss below,
and the white bones faintly visible in the depths were grim reminders of that fate.
But I only quickened my pace.
"The real dungeon hasn't even started yet! Don't chicken out now, Master!"
"Hey, brat! Slow down!"
"Kals! What are you doing? Now's your time to shine—carry her!"
"…Pardon me, Lady Sui."
"Oh my!"
There was a reason I was hurrying.
This labyrinthine dungeon was divided into outer and inner passages.
We were still in the outer section.
It might sound odd, but this part was completely safe.
No traps, no ambushes.
Why? Because defensive magic didn't activate here—
at least not while sunlight reached through the cracks in the cliffs.
The dragon lord who built this lair and designed its traps—
the one who prepared all this magic—
was the Gold Dragon, Eurabis.
The Golden Dragon's Domain
The Golden Dragons possessed a unique talent—
they could absorb and replenish their mana through the power of the sun itself.
Thus, the lair crafted by that dragon also drew its sustaining magic directly from sunlight.
And right now, it was in the middle of recharging.
[The defensive magic protecting 'Four-Dragon's Nest' is currently dormant.]
In simpler terms—it's the solar generator's maintenance cycle.
This period of inactivity lasted about thirty minutes.
I had timed our entry to perfection—
but soon, the magic would reactivate, and the defensive systems in this passage would come alive once more.
Which meant every step we took before that happened was precious.
"Almost there! Move it!"
"Sir Silion! Slow dooown!"
"How in the world does His Highness know all this!?"
Kals, carrying the exhausted Tyrbaen on his back, followed me through the narrowing path.
The last rays of sunlight began to fade between the cliff walls.
"Just a little further!"
And right as we rounded the corner—
[The defensive magic protecting 'Four-Dragon's Nest' has resumed.]
[Intruders detected!]
[Activating defensive magic.]
Flash!
A blinding surge of light rippled across the cliffs.
Then, they appeared—
the summoned guardians of the lair.
They turned their heads toward us in eerie unison,
their movements as smooth and lifeless as specters.
"...!"
Kals's shoulders stiffened as he sensed the ominous energy radiating from them.
Even Tyrbaen, perched on his back with her staff aimed forward, tensed up.
"These are… the Dragon's Slaves."
They weren't ordinary monsters.
Though shackled and chained—proof of their eternal bondage—
Zzzzt…
—the aura radiating from their bodies was several times stronger than any field monster.
They might be prisoners, but they bore the Dragon's powerful blessing.
Right. Even servitude's worth something when your master's a dragon.
***
[Status Effect] The mighty Dragon Lord has granted both eternal bondage and divine blessing to the glorious slaves who guard this place. To belittle them is unforgivable.
Special: Defense and Attack Power tripled
***
With their stats tripled, it was impossible to cut through them one by one.
It was time for a new tactic.
"Kals! Master!"
Our single-file formation shifted instantly.
On the narrow path, Kals and I locked shields side-by-side to block the front line.
"Formation Three! Sir Silion, push from the right flank!"
Command came from the rear—our tiny witch strategist, Tyrbaen.
That, of course, was my idea.
After all, our plan inevitably required this setup.
"Ready, Your Highness?"
"Enough talk—charge!"
Clang! Clang!
Kals and I rushed forward like madmen, shields raised.
These weren't ordinary shields—
they were a dual-plate tower shield crafted specially at Aulrax's Forge.
The massive iron wall covered us so completely that we could barely see ahead.
But vision didn't matter now.
No need to draw swords—
with two tanks in such a confined space,
our momentum itself was a weapon.
"Grrruk?"
We slammed forward with the full weight of our bodies and shields.
And Tyrbaen's buffs were the icing on the cake.
[Blessing Magic: Shield Chariot]
[Shield-based knockback effects massively enhanced!]
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"GROOOAAAR!"
The summoned monsters were crushed and hurled off the cliffs,
plunging helplessly into the abyss below—
goblins, kobolds, even massive orcs alike.
Their fates were the same: instant death.
[Defeated 'Kobold Soldier – Dragon's Slave'!]
[Defeated 'Goblin Elite Warrior – Dragon's Slave'!]
[Defeated 'Orc Commander – Dragon's Slave'!]
[…]
As the notifications poured in,
I could feel my experience bar rising steadily toward Level 30.
Of course, Kals was benefiting too.
The glow in his blue eyes blazed even brighter—
a sharp, fierce sapphire light.
But I knew the truth.
He won't break through to 7-Star with mere combat.
He needed enlightenment—
a revelation to transcend his current limit.
A turning point.
And right on cue—
KRRROOOOAAAHHH!
A colossal roar exploded ahead.
A presence unlike any of the lesser slaves emerged from the shadows.
"Both of you, stop!"
At Tyrbaen's shout, we lowered our shields and looked up—
a massive, black, wall-like creature loomed before us, drool dripping from its fanged maw.
It had just crushed a few of its fellow slaves underfoot,
spattering the ground with blood.
An Ogre.
As intelligent as a High Orc, and as powerful as a Troll.
Exactly the kind of monster I'd been waiting for.
My turning point.
"Formation Two!"
I kicked off the ground, leaping high into the air.
If we took down this brute,
Kals would become a 7-Star Knight—
And I… would reach Level 30.
Then what kind of Fate Card awaited me next?
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