Chapter 70 – Underground City

I carefully read through the information regarding the dungeon in the private Apoin.

“So it has the atmosphere of an Underground City…”

It seemed this dungeon was like the ruins of a fallen civilization deep beneath the earth.

‘Aerial units will be difficult this time.’

Since there was a ceiling, it wasn’t an environment where one could fly freely. Furthermore, as it was within a collapsed city, it seemed there would be many indoor battles inside buildings.

I wondered if it were the traces of humans from another dimension, as seen in novels and other media, but it appeared that wasn’t the case.

The doors were typically over 4 meters high, and the furniture and objects were equally massive… everyone’s guess was that it was the civilization of a race similar to giants.

I felt a spark of interest, wondering if my ability might provide a clue to the Magitech Civilization, but I decided to focus on combat for now.

‘That’s the only way I’ll be able to do anything…’

This time, I needed to organize my forces primarily around ground troops. Since it would be urban warfare, the composition would be slightly different from usual.

First, I didn’t need that many Assault Cannons.

With a ceiling in place, it was obvious that the angles required for indirect fire wouldn’t be available, and the range for direct fire wouldn’t be fully utilized either.

‘Then, if I rely on Magitech Armor…’

That was also a problem.

Magitech Armor was Small-Class, and since they were defensive machines, their output wasn’t very high. Even the Medium-Class Assault Cannons had a massive difference in firepower.

This wasn’t a problem that could be solved even by deploying Mountain Breaker Soldiers, which I had long since retired.

In other words, I needed ground forces that were equivalent or superior to the Assault Cannon.

That didn’t mean it was a loss.

While I planned to gradually increase the number of Aerial Motherships, the forces that occupied and maintained the ground were, after all, the ground troops.

Therefore, I absolutely could not neglect them.

This was especially true looking at the ceasefire line, where I currently lacked enough ground forces to do anything but clear the area, unable to actually occupy it.

‘What would be best…’

I began to weigh each machine one by one.

The first thing that came to mind was the Colossus.

The Colossus was a Super-Large Class machine with immense defense and attack power.

It was one of the cores of my military strength.

However, I soon shook my head.

‘Still not yet…’

Even just increasing the number of Aerial Motherships was taxing for the Super-Large Class.

I couldn’t push it too far yet.

‘But going with Medium-Class feels a bit off…’

For Medium-Class ground forces, the Assault Cannon—the king of price-to-performance—was sufficient. Thus, I was left with only one option.

‘I should go with Large-Class machines after all.’

Among the Large-Class machines, there were two that were particularly useful.

One was the Gladiator.

An upgraded version of the Mountain Breaker Soldier, standing about 3 meters tall. It was a machine with a frail body but high speed.

The most prominent feature of the Gladiator was its use of a sword and shield; the sword’s attack power was considerable, but the shield was especially attractive.

Using its high speed, it could move the shield rapidly to easily deflect attacks.

This contributed greatly to its overwhelming survivability, combined with its evasion ability, even though the durability of the Gladiator itself wasn’t that great.

To use a game analogy, they were like characters who survive through shield block rates and evasion rates despite having low health.

Moreover, once they managed to approach, their attack power was significant, making them very attractive machines.

However… there were many drawbacks.

Since they were frail, they often struggled to approach because they had to focus on defense and evasion. Also, if they were surrounded and unable to evade or defend, they were completely helpless.

Because of this, they often failed to utilize their full power when facing the sheer numbers of Monsters.

In short, they had a limit.

Of course, I was trying to overcome that limit.

[Gladiator: Invisibility research in progress… 16%]

‘I’ll leave them be until the Transparency Upgrade is complete.’

My mind turned toward another machine.

If the Gladiator showed a refined style of combat…

This other machine was the embodiment of raw brutality.

The so-called [Breaker].

Being Large-Class, it was naturally quite big. It looked like a rhinoceros clad in armor.

Considering the three large horns on its face and the massive shield covering its body, it looked more like a Triceratops than a rhinoceros.

Matching its simple appearance…

There was no weakness to be found anywhere on this thing.

It was simply a heavy lump of iron.

Perhaps because its intelligence was equally low, it often couldn’t even find its way properly unless upgraded later…

However, the built-in swarm intelligence offset this disadvantage.

The result was a so-called ‘buffalo herd’—lumps of iron with legs and horns that overwhelmed the enemy with sheer numbers.

‘This will be the most suitable for this time.’

I grinned.

* * *

Before producing the Breakers, I decided to add a new production facility.

‘Summon Large Production Facility.’

Fortunately, since obtaining Aetherium, Mana had not been a major obstacle. This was because I had established a Mana Stone Refinery that consumed vast amounts of Mana Stones.

Of course, it was eating away at my finances, but thanks to Worker Bug Coins, it wasn’t a huge burden. Furthermore, I was upgrading parts of the Mana Facilities using Aetherium, so the Mana situation was expected to improve further.

Beyond that, I was planning further expansions.

The targets included Seoul National University, as well as the entire southwestern part of Seoul, including Guro, Dongjak, Sadang, and Bangbae.

As a result, Seoul was set to be divided into three.

The Marauder Alliance, which controlled the entire Northern Region of the Han River; Gwak Sangyong, who controlled Gangnam, Jamsil, and the Hanam area in the east of the South Han River; and myself, who controlled the southwest of the South.

It wasn’t something to worry about too much.

‘Uncle Sangyong will be joining me soon anyway.’

Gwak Sangyong in the east was my former colleague. I knew his tendencies exactly, and I knew what he wanted.

Once I merged forces with him and dealt with the Marauders, it was certain that I could take over Seoul. Moreover, I likely wouldn’t even need to deal with the Marauders myself.

‘It’s almost time for the Civilization Bulldozers to arrive.’

An invasion was coming that would completely destroy infrastructure with acid-based attacks and change the face of the earth forever.

I had to lay the foundation and grow my strength before then.

“With these guys.”

I grinned and operated the Large Production Facility.

[Repeat Production Order: Breaker]

[Materials Used: Adamantite Alloy, Steel, Rubber]

Steel and Adamantite Alloy were sufficient for the materials. Rubber was only used for the padding of the soles and to reduce wear and noise on the iron plates.

“Then, shall I just produce about 30 units for now…?”

[Target Population: 0 → 30]

This was more than enough.

* * *

Inside the Underground City.

“Kheheek. Kheheheek.”

A giant being sat upon a stone throne, stroking a Rake Wolf that was rubbing its belly against a nearby rock.

“So this is the end of the world.”

He looked bored.

It was understandable.

There were very few beings left like him. Or rather, in a way, only beings like him had survived.

That was because he was a ‘Villain.’

A being who had discarded his own existence and undergone Mutantification.

In the distant past.

His race, which had built a brilliant Magitech Civilization.

Was soon attacked by Monsters.

It was around then that they [approached].

They demanded nothing.

There was no coercion, no threats, and no persuasion.

They simply knew exactly from the start. That for the sake of what he wanted, he would abandon his own race and side with the Monsters.

All that was needed was a final confirmation.

He naturally agreed, and thus, he became a Mutant.

Of course, there was no visible difference on the outside.

But the result was truly magnificent. Thanks to that immense power, he was able to attain the highest position within his own racial society, which was spiraling toward ruin.

And so, he enjoyed the ultimate pleasures.

However… as time went on, the situation worsened.

Behind this was the heavy influence of him and other Villains who, despite their high status in society, were passive in the war against the Monsters.

Eventually, his race was defeated and dug deep underground.

They had lost the sun.

But despite their large frames, these people, who were gentle creators, once again built a brilliant civilization underground.

The Underground City was constructed.

However… that brilliance was short-lived.

Because in their Underground City, where they failed to recognize the severity of the Villains… the Villains, including him, were with them.

Eventually, having opened the way for the Monsters, the Villains handed over everyone else to the Monsters.

And the Underground City was not a place from which it was easy to escape. Thus, before long, the Monsters won. His race perished.

“I didn’t intend for it to end up like this…”

That was why he was bored.

It was ironic.

Shouldn’t the strongest, who can reign, have someone to reign over? The Monsters obeyed well, but a Monster was still just a Monster. It was boring.

And as for interacting with other Villains, they were the only beings capable of killing one another. Moreover, due to their inherent personalities, they fought to reign over each other.

Eventually, he realized that all of this was meaningless.

In the end, they became alone.

“How did it end up like this…?”

It was a short-sighted thought that as long as he gained immense power and could enjoy himself, it wouldn’t matter if he sided with the Monsters.

Driven by terrible boredom and loneliness, he had even considered suicide. But having undergone Mutantification, he couldn’t even die.

This… was nothing more than a living hell.

Perhaps that was why he felt no great emotion even when he realized the dimensions had fragmented and he was trapped in the underground world.

After all, he had been as good as dead long ago.

Then.

Something unusual happened.

Swoosh— Pat!

Boom!

Rumble— Rumble-rumble—

Something began to walk through his city.

“What is that sound…?”

For the first time in a long while, life returned to his eyes. As he rose from the stone throne, the thick layer of dust fell away.

Clang—

And as he opened the door and stepped out into the street—

Rumble— Rumble-rumble-rumble— Rumble-rumble!

An immense cloud of dust approached him—

CRASH!

And crushed him into a pulp.

“Uhaaa-hohe-haaa-aa-hahe-heuk-aaaagh!”

His screams echoed through the streets.

* * *

Meanwhile, I, having formed a Dungeon Expedition Team and entered the dungeon, discovered something peculiar while checking the Observation Probe.

“Oh, a Mutant?”

It had been a while.

I immediately began sending the herd of Breakers toward that location.

Rumble— Rumble-rumble—

The heavy lumps of iron struck the ground, kicking up an immense amount of dust. In fact, thanks to that dust, it was difficult to even accurately discern the appearance of the Breakers.

And the moment a Breaker pounced on the Mutant—.

CRASH!

The Mutant was crushed helplessly.

“What? He’s big, but he’s pretty underwhelming.”

“Uhaaa-hohe-haaa-aa-hahe-heuk-aaaagh!”

It was the moment I sneered, listening to his screams echoing through the street.

“What on earth are these lumps of iron!”

Apoin’s translation function activated.