Chapter 219

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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“This is the place connected to the Secret Room.”

In the central area of the Cube of Hell, Han-bit’s party, who had arrived there, stood in front of a space that looked like a ruin. Old stone pillars tilted here and there, and moss and vines growing everywhere created an eerie atmosphere.

“Black Dragon-nim, but the debuff here…”

Haneul’s expression, having checked the message, darkened. It was an understandable reaction.

[Area Effect: Poison is released.]

[Area Effect: Sealing is applied.]

[Usage of all skills is restricted within the area.]

—Eh?

—Skill restriction?

—Harsh;

—What do you do then?

—If someone comes, you should run.

—But they can’t use them either.

—Is a pure martial arts battle coming?

It was a sealing that locked all skills. It was a debuff where one had to rely only on the physical abilities provided by their items and stats.

“Then we can’t check the surroundings!”

Ping-pong, who had been using detection skills on the way here, spoke as if it were unfair. But there was no need to do so now.

‘They’re far away, indeed.’

Han-bit had been noticing the gazes following them from a while ago. Since the aftermath of the battle between Odin and Ryu Seong-ryong was being felt from afar, they were likely other players of the Sacred Body Faction.

Jeobeok-

Walking inside, Han-bit took out the yellow key from his inventory. The place he stopped at was a gray altar. It was the entrance to the Secret Room.

Slide-

Han-bit, holding the key, reached his hand into the air. Even though nothing was clearly visible, a sensation was felt.

Creek-

The key fitted into the groove while making a metallic sound.

Click-

As he rotated it to the right, a light sound was heard. And a door began to appear in the front where nothing had been.

Sssss-

The dome-shaped entrance took form along with a gradually sharpening outline. It felt like a dangerous space just by looking at it, as an eerie aura spewed out.

“I feel a bit of a tingling sensation.”

“For me, the air feels somewhat heavy.”

The twins also felt a sense of wariness, as if they sensed the unholiness.

“Let’s go in.”

Han-bit stepped inside the door along with the three others.

Flare-!

Candles on the wall flared up as soon as they entered. The path was a ramp leading straight down.

Step-

Han-bit, who knew this space well, moved his steps composedly. The door of the entrance did not close even as the distance grew. It was a space where other players who didn’t find the key could enter as much as they wanted. And Han-bit definitely hoped they would sneak into this place.

“It’s really deep. It feels like a dungeon somehow.”

“It looks like an environment good for monsters to inhabit.”

The twins continued to guard the surroundings while feeling the atmosphere. He wanted to give a detailed explanation, but for now, it was best to maintain this state. Because he couldn’t give clues to the enemies who would be watching this stream.

Rustle-

They were gradually descending. Light particles were seen mixing in places along the passage. It was proof that the destination was slowly getting close.

“Wow, it’s really big.”

The three people who were moving along arrived at the end of the path before they knew it. It was a circular entrance that was about five meters in diameter. A huge space unfolded inside. It was noticeable that green patterns reminding one of a forest covered the walls.

—Dizzyingly big. lol

—A real secret room. dd

—So what do we do now?

—Is there treasure?

—What is that in the middle?

—Is it a box?

Something at the center entered the eyes of viewers who were looking at the screen. It was a golden box that was suspicious to anyone.

“Could that be it?”

“I have a feeling…”

“It’s subtle.”

The three people made puzzled expressions without bringing up the word relic. It was a box that smelled strongly of hidden treasure. Because it was so openly there, it felt suspicious too.

Step-

Han-bit moved his steps inside without answering. The three people who were wary of the box also followed behind him.

And just before reaching the center, a woman’s voice roared from behind.

“You there, stop.”

At the appearance of those he had been waiting for, Han-bit leisurely turned his head towards the entrance. There was Verdict, whom he had already encountered twice, and the blonde woman seen at the Cube entrance. The other companions seemed to have all died.

—Ah.

—Something came again;

—Activity GOAT

—Can’t you just get lost?

—How did they find this place. lol

—Seems they tailed them?

The chat window heated up at the appearance of the interrupters.

“You don’t even look surprised.”

“I told you, didn’t I? There’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed.”

The two people talked casually while looking at Han-bit’s reaction. Somehow, they seemed to be overflowing with leisure.

“There are only two of them. Besides, that person lost to Black Dragon before, didn’t he?”

Haneul pointed at Verdict and knit her brows. He was the man who had been miserably defeated in Episode 6. There was no way he had achieved explosive growth during that short time.

Han-bit said while looking at the enemies.

“It’ll be difficult for just the two of you.”

“Oh my, are you worrying about us?”

Alice smiled while covering her mouth. Han-bit, looking at that appearance, got a strange feeling.

‘What is it?’

The atmosphere felt as if he had encountered it somewhere. But even thinking of the members of the Holy State, there was no person who matched exactly.

“Certainly, the two of us won’t be enough.”

Meanwhile, Alice nodded and agreed. It meant they purposely came all the way here even knowing they couldn’t win. In other words, it was proper to see that they had something to rely on.

“At that time, I was helplessly defeated.”

Verdict, who had been standing quietly, came one step forward. Confidence resided in his weighted voice. The identity of that confidence appeared immediately.

Slip-

‘It was that.’

It was the golden sword held in Verdict’s hand. It was a weapon called the Judgment of the Sun. It wasn’t a relic, but it was certainly an item to show such confidence.

“It seems the activation of skills is impossible here. It means what to trust are physical abilities and items. The Goddess of Turbulence must have foreseen this future.”

—?

—What is he saying?

—Turbulence what?

—Goddess?

—The immersion is crazy. lol

—After going to the Holy State, really…

—The danger of the game. dd

The existence of the Goddess was brought up abruptly. Did he not even intend to hide it now? Since viewers naturally thought it was nonsense, there was no immediate problem.

“Foreseen the future?”

“If it weren’t for that, we wouldn’t have been able to prepare this weapon. Alice’s role was significant, but that too is the Goddess’s grace.”

Verdict looked at the woman standing beside him while gripping the sword. Alice, who received the gaze, spoke with a smirk.

“I’m a bit special, you see. Should I say I receive the oracle directly?”

It was a reaction shown confidently while emphasizing her specialness. Han-bit, looking at that appearance, threw one question.

“So you’re saying the Goddess of Agitation saw the future and guided you here?”

“Understanding that intent is our share. It’s also blasphemous to wish for all answers from the Goddess, isn’t it?”

—dd

—A crazy person.

—Is the Holy State all like that?

—Scary.

It wasn’t strange even if Alice looked like she was crazy in the eyes of viewers. But Han-bit’s thoughts were different.

‘There’s something.’

Outwardly, she was a fanatic that could be seen in the Holy State. The problem was her speech and behavior, which seemed to be inducing something. Even the appearance emphasizing her peculiarity was somehow strange. But even trying to rummage through the inside, nothing was caught.

‘Let’s get the relic first.’

Regardless of Alice’s identity, what was important right now was the relic. Because it was absolutely necessary to proceed with future work as planned.

“Well, I understand the situation. But it seems your Goddess is wrong this time.”

“What do you mean…”

Dash-!

The moment Verdict tried to refute, Han-bit jumped back in an instant. His extended hand was in a state of touching the treasure box in the center.

Boom-!

At the same time, a roar was heard from the entrance side. That space that had been wide open was firmly closed before he knew it.

“What do you think you’re doing? Are you giving up your life?”

Verdict, who checked the entrance, turned his gaze to Black Dragon while gripping the golden sword. But his target at the treasure box was not seen.

“He went that way?”

Alice, who was watching them, pointed at the corner with her finger. There, Black Dragon and his party were hiding their bodies together.

“Was that appearance of overwhelming with the sword ultimately just confidence due to skills?”

Verdict, who was throwing accusations, made a puzzled expression at Alice’s words. She was pointing upward with her finger.

“Isn’t it because of that?”

“…?”

Verdict’s gaze naturally headed to the ceiling. Something was seen twitching inside the brilliantly drawn patterns.

Slip-

A smooth line drew a winding path as if sliding. Verdict’s eyes, watching that, had no choice but to gradually widen.

“No way…!”

Swoosh-

The huge head of a snake in the form of an arrowhead fell from the ceiling. The fangs revealed from the wide-open mouth were too threatening.

[Boss: Guardian of the Ruins Basilisk (Lv. ???)]

The boss monster Basilisk had never appeared anywhere before. The unnotated level naturally made one feel anxiety.

“Black Dragon!”

Han-bit’s party, who were called out, were in a state of silence while covered in robes with gray powder on them. It was an odorless powder that could escape the Basilisk’s detection. Originally it was an item targeting the characteristics of snakes, but it could be used sufficiently here too. It needed a bit more time for the one with poor eyesight to notice the camouflage.

—lol

—The speed of hiding is crazy fast. lol

—Look at how big the snake is.

—Isn’t this the Snake Cube, not the Cube of Hell?

—A basilisk is cheating;

—I want to make it fight with the Snow Drake.

Swoosh-

Right then, the Basilisk on the ceiling began to slowly descend towards the ground while stretching its body. The targets were the two people of the Sacred Body Faction whose heat, smell, and movement could be detected.

Verdict gripped the golden sword while gritting his teeth.

Flash-!

Golden brilliance spewed from the sword blade. Just like its name, it felt as if it contained the power of the sun.

Dash-!

Verdict, who kicked off his feet, jumped up towards the descending Basilisk. And he drew the sword greatly along with a shout.

“Hup!”

Whoosh-!

The power of the sun burned along the trajectory of the swung sword blade. But the result was not good.

Screech-!

The Basilisk covered in golden light accelerated in anger. Most of all, not a single scratch was made on the fellow’s firm scales.

“What…!”

Verdict, who failed with the Judgment of the Sun, opened his eyes wide. Gritting his teeth again, he began to swing the sword repeatedly.

Whoosh-!

Whoosh-!

The brilliance of the sun continued to bloom along the trajectory. But the mana of Verdict, who had been active inside the Cube of Hell, was exhausted in an instant. It was a sword still too much for him to use.

Pshhh-

The sword spewed only futile smoke as if the fuel had run out. Verdict gradually stepped back.

“Alice! Assistance…?”

His gaze, trying to ask for help, only scanned the empty surroundings. Alice’s appearance, which was there until a moment ago, was nowhere to be seen.

Swoosh-

A huge shadow loomed over the head of Verdict, who was backing away. His gaze, anticipating death, reached where Han-bit was. At the same time, the Basilisk’s head moved.

Crunch-!

Verdict was swallowed along with the sound of something being crushed. The body soon became powder and scattered.

Rustle-

The Basilisk, having defeated the enemy, began to rummage the surroundings as if searching for the remaining intruders. Han-bit, looking at that appearance, immediately kicked off his feet.

Tat-!

Speed rapidly accumulated while he was wrapping himself in wind. This was not a skill. Since it was the will of the spirits, it was the realm of the power they possessed.

Swoosh-!

The Basilisk, having discovered the enemy, rushed with an enormous speed while opening its mouth wide. Han-bit, gripping the sword with both hands, did not slow down even a bit.

Rumble-!

Just before the encounter, a tail attack flew in while sweeping the floor. Han-bit, who instead dug into that direction, swung the sword as if slamming down the tail while observing the exact angle.

Teong-!

The body bounced back strongly due to colliding with enormous power and speed. That speed was difficult even for the Basilisk to expect.

Stab-!

The fellow trying to swallow Han-bit, who was flying towards it, bit the air. Han-bit passed that and headed above the bridge of the nose. Landing on the upper side, he quickly took a posture.

“Let’s just stay still for a moment.”

Crunch-!

Kieeeek-!

The sword blade dug inside as it pierced the bridge of the nose, which was the weak point. When it reached the roof of the mouth, the Basilisk struggled frantically in pain. It was an impossible task if it wasn’t for the sword using the Ingot of the Stars, if it wasn’t for the spirit power, and if he hadn’t accumulated stats like this.

Kugung-!

Han-bit, stepping down from the Basilisk fallen on the floor, approached the box. And he reached his hand inside that spewed unique light.

Ttiring-

[You have obtained the Relic: Branch of the Lost World Tree (Rank 8/Legendary).]