[Time until demon summon: 8:12]

Ha Gangwoo and the other party members all lifted their heads to the sky.

A colossal dark sphere—who would have thought it had a barrier around it.

Everyone stood dazed and frozen.

Kang Seongbin was the first to speak.

“Goddammit!!! What now? We killed the boss!”

He yanked the Lance Imbued with Sacred Light from where it had stabbed into the ground, bellowing.

Then he strode over to Ha Gangwoo, stripped the Light Shield Imbued with Sacred Light from him, and strapped it onto his own left arm.

“What’s the problem!”

Fifteen years—not a single day off—all for this moment.

There was no way he’d let time run out and get eliminated in some shit-hole like this.

The instant he failed here, he’d lose not only his grade but also his shot at the Ranking’s tower challenge. That’s why he couldn’t give up.

Gritting his teeth, Kang Seongbin immediately checked the Set Effect.

[Judgment of Destruction]

Effect: A single strike that destroys all darkness. The effect vanishes the moment you attack.

Cooldown: 120 minutes (Cooldown resets upon paying a price.)

[Cooldown: 118 minutes 24 seconds]

“Fuck!!”

He’d equipped it out of hope, but as expected, the Set Effect was on cooldown.

But hope wasn’t entirely lost.

‘A price?’

An item that reset cooldown in exchange for a price. He’d never seen an effect like that. But that wasn’t the point.

A sliver of hope.

‘Use it!’

Kang Seongbin furrowed his brow and made up his mind to use the skill.

He was willing to pay any price rather than fail the quest and retire here.

‘Judgment of Destruction.’

*Ding-*

The instant Kang Seongbin activated the relic’s effect, a single system window materialized in front of him.

‘… …’

Seongbin’s expression went cold as stone as he read the message.

*[Cost: The caster’s life.]*

*[Would you like to use it?]*

*[Yes / No]*

The cost was the caster’s life — an ability that could only be obtained by sacrificing someone.

***

*[Time until Demon Summoning: 6:12]*

“Say something, damn it!!!”

Kang Seongbin roared, his temper flaring.

As soon as he explained the relic’s price, everyone had clamped their mouths shut.

That was when Lee Ayeon slowly curled her lips into a smirk. Right then—

Kang Seongbin grabbed her by the collar.

“Son of a bitch! You’re the one who told us to come here. You take responsibility!”

Amid the chaos, Ha Gangwoo sank into thought.

‘A life, huh…’

Gangwoo’s gaze fixed on the relic in Kang Seongbin’s hand.

Had he been aiming for this situation from the start? Maybe because Chae Seohyun had spoken up, the thought crossed his mind.

So far, there had been three key moments where the relic was needed.

1. Beiron’s Barrier.

2. The barrier enveloping the dark sphere.

3. The massive black orb.

At minimum, the relic had to be used three times to clear.

If the plan was to clear using the relic, it meant they had to pay that price to succeed.

The corner of Ha Gangwoo’s mouth twitched faintly.

‘So you have to ditch two people to get through, is that it.’

Thanks to Gangwoo’s overwhelming attack power, Beiron’s Barrier had already been shattered — now only one sacrifice was needed. But originally, this dungeon demanded at least two lives to clear. A true hell of a difficulty.

A faint smile crept across Ha Gangwoo’s face.

“Interesting.”

Gangwoo’s fingers toyed with the lucky pouch in his pocket.

‘Should I open it now?’

Wasn’t this exactly the kind of crisis that seemed perfect for a good item to pop out?

But he pulled his hand back.

Because he still didn’t feel like it was a real crisis yet.

Ha Gangwoo lifted his head and stared at the black sphere.

He thought he could roughly guess the intent of this quest.

‘It’s asking me to choose, then.’

The dungeon was posing a question right now.

Would they clear it safely, sacrificing a party member?

Or—

*[Lance Imbued with Sacred Light]*

Grade: C

Durability: 50/50

Attack Power: 89

Strength: +61

Agility: +36

Description: The lance of Reins, Imperial Guard Captain of Sky Land. Infused with powerful holy energy, it is effective against darkness-attribute enemies. (Dungeon-exclusive item. Vanishes upon clearing the dungeon.)

Effects

– Damage against demon-kind increased by 1,000%.

*Set Effect (0/2)*

– Grants the weapon the effect of Judgment of Destruction.

“Fight the demon.”

Would they fight the demon and advance as a full team?

There was something about this relic that struck him as odd.

‘A demon-kind exclusive effect.’

In the one hour and fifty minutes since entering the dungeon, they hadn’t seen a single demon-kind monster.

All the Undead Knights were Undead, and Beiron himself had been human. So why was this effect attached to the weapon?

‘Did he plan for this from the very beginning?’

Chae Seohyun had said it before—this Quest was full of puzzle-like elements.

If that was true, then his current line of thinking couldn’t be wrong.

‘A demon…’

Ha Gangwoo clicked his tongue. Every member of this Party had been trained as elites—none of them would sacrifice themselves like that.

That left only one option.

Catch the demon. Plain and simple!

When the timer first started dropping, he’d been anxious about what would happen when time ran out. But now, he almost looked forward to it.

‘What kind of bastard will it be?’

A demon—he’d never even imagined one before.

Thump-thump—

Was it the anticipation? Or that ominous sphere floating in the air? His heart pounded hard in his chest.

Just as Ha Gangwoo was mulling over how to break through this situation—

“Seriously!! Let’s just roll the dice—if one person dies, three can live! What, are we all gonna die for nothing here?”

Kang Seongbin shouted at the top of his lungs. But neither Chae Seohyun nor Lee Ayeon agreed with him.

*Gnash*—Seongbin ground his teeth.

There was no camaraderie in this Party to begin with.

It was just a Party formed to get a good rank.

There was no reason to risk being sacrificed just to save someone else.

If the dice landed on you and you were the one to be sacrificed? You might as well choose to die together.

“Hah…”

Kang Seongbin let out a heavy sigh. No other solution came to mind.

That was when Ha Gangwoo stepped forward.

“Let’s catch it.”

“What?!”

“I said let’s catch the demon.”

At Ha Gangwoo’s words, the corner of Lee Ayeon’s mouth curled up slightly.

“This dungeon, from the start…”

Ha Gangwoo began explaining the conclusion he’d reached.

***

Chae Seohyun grabbed her pendant and looked up at the enormous black sphere.

‘Why didn’t I think of that?’

A subtle tremor crossed Chae Seohyun’s face.

[Summoning Doom][S]

Grade: D

Description: The black mage ‘Beiron’ is summoning a Great Demon. Join forces with your Party members to stop Beiron’s summoning and protect the peace of Sky Land!!!

There had never even been a failure condition.

The clear condition was simply to protect the peace of Sky Land.

[Time until Demon summoning: 5:12]

They’d just been distracted by the sudden timer in front of them, and missed the truth.

‘So this is really what the dungeon wanted all along…’

Chae Seohyun’s brow furrowed.

Maybe this dungeon had wanted them to catch the demon from the very beginning.

If that was the case…

‘Then Judgment of Destruction was a device meant for catching the demon.’

The thought struck her out of nowhere.

‘A mistake.’

Chae Seohyun bit down hard.

Now that she’d blown Judgment of Destruction through her own misjudgment…

A question rose in her mind: would they even be able to catch the demon?

Chae Seohyun’s hand twitched around the pendant. This situation felt too unstable to trust.

Scowling, she turned her gaze and met Ha Gangwoo’s eyes.

In an instant, her trembling hand stilled.

‘……’

If her hunch was right, catching a demon without the artifact’s power was nearly impossible.

But was it because of that man? Why, in this hopeless moment, did hope stir inside her?

Without realizing it, Seohyun had pulled her hand from the pendant and gripped her weapon.

And then.

[Time until demon summoning: 0:03]

[Time until demon summoning: 0:02]

[Time until demon summoning: 0:01]

The moment the timer hit zero.

[The Great Demon Lucifel has descended!!!]

A system window blazed into existence.

***

Thrummm— Thrummm—

The colossal sphere of darkness contracted steadily. What had once been the size of a building shrank until it was no larger than a single person.

Then—Crackle. A sound like something shattering, and the sky itself split.

*Shriek*— The fractured sky tore open as if screaming.

And then—*thud*. A violet hand pushed through the gap.

Sliding out, two massive horns, long straight hair, and bizarre tattoos covering the whole body. The demon’s form slowly revealed itself.

*Whoooosh*— A single silhouette descended from the heavens.

*Thud*—

The figure landed on the vast earth.

Ha Gangwoo and his party felt their expressions harden as they watched.

Unconsciously, Ha Gangwoo tightened his grip on the lance in his hand.

‘A Great Demon…’

Just seeing its back made every hair on his body stand on end.

‘Is this really a monster meant to be killed?’

His Sense was at 62. Right now, that stat was screaming at him—run.

“Hit it now!!”

Kang Seongbin roared, and golden light flickered in both of Chae Seohyun’s hands.

Ha Gangwoo just stared at the demon, making no move.

Slowly, the demon turned its head. And then—their eyes met.

The demon spoke. Its voice scraped like nails on a chalkboard.

“How arrogant. Who told you to stand.”

That was the moment.

*OOOM*— A crushing pressure blanketed the entire area.

*THUD*— *THUD*— *THUD*—

Lee Ayeon, Chae Seohyun, and Kang Seongbin all slammed to the ground.

Only Ha Gangwoo remained standing, barely holding against the force.

‘What the…’

Ha Gangwoo tried to activate the ‘Artifact Shield’ on his left arm, but it was useless.

The demon’s lips curled into a thin smile.

“Interesting.”

The moment the word ended—*OOOOM*—a far greater weight hammered down on him.

*CRASH!!!* Ha Gangwoo’s body crumpled to the floor.

Ha Gangwoo ground his teeth.

‘This… is it just Mana!’

The shield’s effect was nullification of dark magic—but what crushed his entire body right now was plain mana.

‘Monster.’

A true monster, unlike anything he’d seen before. The Great Demon was stronger than he’d anticipated.

Gritting his teeth, Ha Gangwoo poured strength into his whole body.

His muscles screamed in protest, but bit by bit, his body began to rise.

A mad grin curled at Lucifel’s lips as he watched.

“Oh! This is interesting.”

In that instant, the pressure crushing him vanished with a soft pop.

The demon rolled his neck, swung his arms loosely, then spoke in a low voice.

“Perfect for a warm-up. Let’s have some fun.”

He grinned wide as he said it.

With the pressure gone, Kang Seongbin, Chae Seohyun, and Lee Ayeon pulled themselves to their feet.

“We’re supposed to take that thing down?”

Kang Seongbin swallowed dryly, his eyes fixed on the demon.

‘…’

Chae Seohyun’s gaze locked onto the demon’s eyes. Where there should have been white, there was only black, and the pupils burned red.

A demon—pure and unadulterated. For a moment, the scene superimposed itself over a memory from her past.

Meeting those eyes, Seohyun’s hands began to tremble. Before she knew it, her fingers had found her pendant again.

Lee Ayeon’s expression also tightened.

‘That’s way out of left field…’

Just then, the demon slowly raised an arm. He opened his mouth in a low voice.

“Hmm… Boring as ever, I suppose.”

He extended his index finger, pointing it in one direction.

“One, to start.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a streak of black light shot forth with a sharp zing, carving a line through the air.

The light streaked straight toward Chae Seohyun, frozen in terror.

“Haaah… Haaah…”

Seohyun’s breath came in ragged gasps. Time itself seemed to slow.

In that instant, the memories of the past seared through her mind again.

Black sclera, white pupils. The man with the white eyes.

Was it because the atmosphere was so similar? Her body refused to obey.

She could only stare blankly at the beam hurtling toward her. No thoughts came at all.

Fear had swallowed her mind whole.

*Swoosh—*

The dark ray flew straight for Seohyun’s head.

If she stayed put, she was dead.

But then.

*Ding-*

Ha Gangwoo stepped in front of Chae Seohyun.

[Dark magic nullified.]

The moment the black light struck the shield, it dissolved with a soft pop.

*Ziiing—* A sinister vibration coursed through the shield.

[Durability decreased by 20.]

[Durability: 80/100]

‘What kind of destructive power is that…’

Ha Gangwoo scowled, staring down the demon.

The demon burst into loud laughter as he spoke.

“Oh~! You blocked that? How entertaining! Yes! Show me more. If I like it, I’ll kill you painlessly.”

Grinning wide, the demon taunted.

Ha Gangwoo ground his teeth. The demon’s tone—talking about killing him painlessly, telling him to show what he’s got—got under his skin.

‘Annoying.’

He raised his shield and barked out.

“Snap out of it! You planning to just lie down and die here?”

At his shout, Kang Seongbin and Chae Seohyun’s expressions shifted subtly.

Gangwoo scowled, lowering his stance.

“Hoo…”

The situation was hopeless, no doubt about it.

The demon before him wielded power beyond reason. Yet to see them falter and give up so easily…

‘Maybe I overestimated them.’

Calling them an elite party—maybe I trusted them too much, too fast.

‘Then again, this is rich coming from the guy who gave up on himself until this morning.’

A thin smirk curled the corner of Gangwoo’s mouth.

He still had the Lucky Pouch of Crisis, even a Fortune Coin.

Maybe it was all the items left to challenge that demon with? Fear took a backseat to a growing sense that he could actually pull this off.

‘What’ll that bastard drop?’

That absurd strength had to mean insane rewards.

‘Let’s just charge in!’

Whirr—

Gangwoo thrust his right leg forward and dropped into a crouch.

‘Full power!!’

Whirr—

[Swift Movements activates.]

[Movement speed increases by 50%.]

[Attack Stance is triggered.]

[Your next attack deals 2x destructive power.]

A crimson aura flared across his whole body, while a blue light flickered around his legs.

Decision made, Gangwoo stomped the ground.

Boom!

With his Strength at a whopping 175, the earth exploded, fragments flying.

Whoosh— Gangwoo shot toward the demon at his top speed. A 50% movement speed boost—it was undeniably fast.

Whoosh— The sound of cleaving air grazed his ears.

In an instant, Gangwoo closed to within a hair’s breadth of the demon.

His pupils contracted. Agility at 125—the moment itself seemed to fracture and slow.

The demon’s grinning face seared into his vision.

In the slowed world, the demon’s body was still, but its pupils were fixed squarely on him.

The moment he felt that gaze, a prickling chill raced down his spine.

‘So this is a Great Demon.’

Gangwoo narrowed his eyes and charged straight on.

Having come this far, fear like that was nothing.

Fsssshh— Gangwoo’s form swept across the ground, arriving right before the demon.

Whoosh— He thrust his spear with all his might.

In the slowed world, the demon’s arm twitched to block the spear.

Rattling—

Chains of Light coiled around the demon’s entire body.

Chae Seohyun had used her skill.

Kang Seongbin was also charging in behind Gangwoo.

Gangwoo allowed himself a small smile at the sight of them.

‘That’s more like it.’

He drove his spear forward. Strength at 175. A 1,000% damage increase on the weapon. And the 2x damage effect from Attack Stance on top of that!

There was no way it wouldn’t work.

Whoosh—a sickening sound cut through the air.

Thwack—the air itself split and cracked open.

A patter of droplets.

Blooddrops drummed against the stone.

But Gangwoo’s face twisted into a scowl.

‘This… no damn way.’

Grinning wide, the demon bared its razor teeth, letting out a loud, mocking laugh.

“Having fun?”

The spear-tip hadn’t even pierced through its abdomen.

Was it because of the weapon’s 1,000% Damage effect? The tip had broken skin, but that was all.

Gangwoo’s brow furrowed even deeper.

He’d thought that level of attack power was enough to skewer a torso clean through.

Yet it hadn’t even cut through the muscle.

“What are you standing there like an idiot for! Move!!”

That was when Kang Seongbin, who had been following behind Gangwoo, shouted and swung his greatsword.

Swish—the greatsword carved an arc through the air.

Clang—clang—clang—

Seongbin hacked wildly with the greatsword.

But not a single scratch appeared on the demon’s body. It was like striking a boulder with a twig—utterly unchanged.

Annoyed, the demon casually swept its arm. Crack—the chains wrapping its body shattered as the limb slammed into Seongbin’s abdomen.

Thud!!

A heavy impact tore through the air, and with a sharp whoosh, Seongbin’s body crashed into the ground.

Then the demon smirked and spoke lazily. A grating, chalkboard-scraping noise seeped into the words, stoking pure terror.

“Got anything else?”

Gangwoo’s expression went cold.

‘Got anything else?’

A gleam of light flickered in his eyes.

“Yeah. One thing.”

Gangwoo’s hand slid into the air.

Like a blade cutting through nothing, his arm vanished, then reemerged gripping an object.

[Fortune Coin][Advent]

Grade: ???

Description: A coin of luck. The effect triggers the moment you flick it with your finger. (The coin disappears upon activation.)

Effect

28% (3↑) chance to gain the ‘Flame God’ effect.

28% (3↑) chance to gain the ‘Lightning God’ effect.

44% (6↓) chance of failure.

This was the only card left in his hand.

Gangwoo set the Fortune Coin on his thumb.

Ting—

With a clear, crisp ring, the Fortune Coin scattered into the air.

Flip—flip—flip—flip—flip—

Then, with a sharp tap—it hit the ground.

Ding-

[You have acquired the Lightning God effect.]

Crackling—

Sparks rippled across his entire body.

A tingle shot through him; his hair stood on end.

Power surged through every muscle.

A fierce light glimmered in Gangwoo’s eyes.

‘Let’s go.’