Chapter 54 – General of the Underworld (４)

The place they arrived at was a small storage room.

A storeroom thick with dust, as if it had been abandoned for ages.

This hidden — maybe even the fortress crew doesn’t know about it?

Gijun guessed that this Shortcut’s existence might be something no one inside this fortress even knew about.

If that was true, then getting hold of the Compass was pure dumb luck.

“Let’s check outside first.”

“That’d be wise.”

Amalta and Gijun pressed their ears cautiously to the wall, listening for any sound beyond.

Not even the faintest noise came from outside.

Satisfied that he sensed no presence, Gijun slowly pushed open the warehouse door and swept his gaze across the surroundings.

A long lobby stretched out before him.

Unlike the warehouse, the marble-floored lobby was well-kept and tidy.

At the far end of the lobby stood a single massive door.

‘That must be the General’s room.’

It had to be the entrance to the General’s quarters.

But it wasn’t certain yet whether a true general actually waited inside.

Still—the compass was pointing at that room without a doubt.

If that was the case, following the compass was the best move.

“Let’s go.”

Gijun and Amalta moved fast, stepping light to mask their presence, until they reached the door.

The compass still aimed inward.

“I’m going in.”

“Do it.”

With those words, Gijun and Amalta pushed the door open.

The massive door groaned on its hinges.

It swung wide.

The space beyond came into view.

A vast room.

Inside stood a hulking man.

He was fast asleep.

The letters floating above his head read:

[General of the Underworld, Ricardo — Lv. 320]

Level 320.

Ricardo, a General of the Underworld by that name.

And now —

“…Huh?”

The bastard stirred, pushing himself upright.

“…What the…?”

Ricardo stared at Gijun and Amalta, who had just stepped into his chamber, his face a mask of bewilderment.

Like a man freshly roused from sleep, he didn’t even seem on guard.

“Who are you?”

He rose slowly, deliberately.

And as he stood, his frame seemed to swell even larger.

So massive that even the great Amalta looked like a child beside him.

“Ah — a rat.”

Ricardo let out a laugh instead.

As if the sight was utterly pathetic.

“I see.”

He nodded then, as if finally grasping the situation.

“So you’re the vermin He spoke of.”

His mouth split into a long, wide grin.

“Thank you. For coming to me. You’ve handed me a chance to earn merit.”

With that, he swept his hand through the air once.

In an instant, a black curtain unfurled inside the room.

[A Dark Veil has been spread.]

“Hehehe… No need to share this prey with the others.”

A veil that segregated the outside from his own room into separate Dimensions, ensuring nothing that happened inside leaked out.

Ricardo planned to take down both Jun and Amalta alone and claim all the glory for himself.

But Jun, on the other hand, could only be glad.

‘If that’s how he wants it, it only makes this easier for me.’

With no worry about reinforcements pouring in from outside, he could throw himself into this fight with a clearer mind.

Then—

A dark aura erupted around Ricardo’s body.

The air hissed as shadowy energy coiled and flared like a living cloak.

Armor had materialized around his body, encasing him completely.

A massive spear filled one hand, a shield the other.

“Come.”

Ricardo said.

As if he could not be bothered to care.

Gijun and Amalta exchanged a glance, then began to move.

‘Amalta and I are in sync now.’

It wasn’t a long time, but they’d fought together enough to understand each other’s weapons inside out.

Amalta was the first to surge forward.

By now, Amalta had already activated Flame Unity — his whole body wreathed in fire.

But Gijun’s cooldown wasn’t up yet.

‘Guess the original’s out of my league.’

Still, it didn’t matter.

Because even without Flame Unity, Gijun had a new weapon now.

Crack—!

A Fireball erupted from behind Gijun’s back.

In an instant, the Fireball shifted shape.

Transformed into a spear, it cut through the air in a blur.

“…?!”

Ricardo’s eyes widened slightly.

At that moment—

Five shape-shifted Fireballs slammed into Ricardo’s body.

Crackling—!

Ricardo barely managed to block the attack.

But the shield that had stopped those shape-shifted Fireballs was now pierced through, reduced to tatters.

The explosion that followed—

Boom-boom-boom-BLAM!

“Guh…!”

—swept over Ricardo’s body.

That finally snapped Ricardo back to full alertness.

“…Impressive.”

The destructive power exceeded his imagination.

He’d thought he could just crush them like bugs and claim his merit.

But this fight might not end so easily.

And even now—

“Kraaah!”

—Amalta’s spear, charging from the opposite side, drove straight at Ricardo.

Ricardo’s spear and Amalta’s spear clashed.

Not as overwhelming as a mage, but this side’s strength was nothing to sneeze at either.

The moment he blocked that spear—

—another volley of shape-shifted Fireballs came streaking in from the other side.

‘Dangerous.’

Even Ricardo found that attack hard to block.

Ka-boom-boom-BLAM!

In the end, Ricardo had to let Gijun’s attacks land all over his body.

His armor, forged from Palatarnium — the Underworld’s Magi-infused metal — now bore scratches.

‘Damn it…’

Ricardo finally grasped the gravity of the situation.

And of course, their attacks didn’t end there.

As if they were a single body, the two perfectly filled each other’s gaps, pressing Ricardo hard.

He had no choice but to admit his own arrogance.

These two were no weak bugs he could squash with a flick of his finger.

At that moment, Gijun’s Fireball shot toward Ricardo again—

—and exploded.

Crack—

A fissure ran through his armor.

The cracked armor shattered into countless fragments, spraying into the air.

Boom-boom-boom-boom-BLAM!

The armor, erupting in a deafening roar as its pieces scattered every direction from Ricardo’s barrier, left not even a trace behind.

‘Troublesome little bastards.’

But that didn’t mean he thought he’d lose to them.

Not bugs, sure — but at best, they were just bigger, meaner mutts.

He sure as hell wasn’t cowardly enough to be scared of some fearless son of a bitch.

“Come again. I forgive you — for picking up that ill-fitting hunk of iron and facing off against savage curs like you.”

Thud!

Ricardo stripped off his Armor, hurled his Spear to the ground, and clenched both fists.

“As I thought, there’s nothing more thrilling than smashing heads open with my bare fists.”

Then, Magi began to flicker and surge around his fists.

And that wasn’t all.

Fizzz — fzzzzzzt!

Behind him, lightning-shaped Magi extended outward like wings.

‘So this is your real form, huh.’

He looked no joke.

Far more threatening than when he wore that Armor.

And it wasn’t just his imagination — the bastard actually seemed lighter on his feet, his expression utterly relaxed.

That was when it happened.

Flash!

“…?!”

In an instant, Ricardo’s body flickered, and then he vanished.

Then the creature’s massive fist was right in front of Gijun’s face.

‘…When?’

A speed so immense it slipped even Gijun’s perception.

Whump—!

Gijun’s body moved on reflex.

“Not bad.”

He’d barely dodged it, but the sheer velocity made him want to gasp.

A chill ran down his spine.

It didn’t even seem like he’d started attacking in earnest, yet this was the result.

[Master. I’ll reconnect.]

Then came Libre’s voice once more.

‘It won’t be easy, though.’

He’d already linked minds with Libre while coming through the shortcut.

That had left Libre drained, too.

But in this situation, turning down that offer was also hard.

Especially since the General’s Level was astronomically higher than both Gijun’s and Amalta’s.

“Got it.”

In an instant, Libre and Gijun’s minds reconnected.

Gijun’s senses expanded to an extreme degree.

Once again, Ricardo’s attack rained down toward Gijun.

It was definitely fast and threatening, but easier to handle than before.

Swish—!

Gijun dodged the attack again.

Through the gap, Amalta’s assault came crashing in.

Crack!

“…?!”

Ricardo smirked.

Ricardo had blocked even Amalta’s strike perfectly.

He wasn’t even wearing armor—he’d caught Amalta’s spear with one hand.

Then—

BOOM!

He gripped the spear and hurled Amalta far away.

I’m losing my mind.

Words wouldn’t come.

What kind of bastard is this guy?

Is it even possible to take him down?

Should I have raised my Level a bit more before coming?

Was pushing ahead out of greed the real mistake?

A flood of thoughts raced through his mind now—

No.

Gijun bit down hard on his lip to snap out of it.

What the hell am I saying?

He’d practically bragged about marching to the battlefield.

And now, here, he was letting this kind of doubt creep in—it was pathetic.

How the hell is he supposed to go to war in this state?

Low-tier Magin. Mid-tier Magin.

Beyond them, High-tier Magin and Top-tier Magin.

And behind all that, a land teeming with countless more Magin that humanity hasn’t even discovered yet.

The battlefield—a place where even veteran Superhumans who’ve cleared high-level Dungeons have to stake their lives.

‘And I was sitting here, thinking thoughts like this, in a place like this?’

A hollow laugh of disbelief escaped him.

“You’ve gone mad.”

Ricardo’s voice cut through.

“Hah. It’s no surprise your mind has snapped before my overwhelming power.”

Then Ricardo’s gaze shifted.

“So it’s you. The Flame Monarch.”

A cold smile curled at the corner of Ricardo’s mouth.

“I’ll take you alive and present you to my liege.”

[You talk a lot of shit for a filthy mongrel of the Underworld.]

“Heh heh heh…”

In that instant, Ricardo’s massive fist came crashing forward again.

Aimed straight at Jun.

But then.

Crack!

“…What’s this?”

Ricardo’s fist stopped mid-air.

Blocking its path was Amalta’s spear.

“Insolent wretch. Did you think I’d fall that easily? I am the king of the great plains of Hamal, son of my mother Hamal, and at the same time, the Seeker serving the Flame Monarch!”

Crash!

The moment Amalta heaved his spear up with all his strength, Ricardo’s arm was shoved upward.

“Hoh…!”

Ricardo’s eyes widened in surprise.

Jun moved again.

‘Strong Wind. Orca’s Footsteps.’

Activating two wind-attribute Skills, he plunged back into Ricardo’s chest.

Szzzt—clang-clang-clang!

Jun’s wind Skills clashed against the tensile pressure of Magi shrouding Ricardo’s body.

Jun pressed both hands against Ricardo’s stomach and detonated his Skill.

Boom-boom-boom-boom-BLAM!

Five Fireballs hammered into Ricardo’s abdomen.

“Ghhk…!”

Jun’s Fireball was undeniably powerful.

With the effect of the Necklace of Extinction added, its force was something even Ricardo couldn’t ignore.

But then.

[Proficiency in Fireball has increased.]

A message flashed that Fireball’s Proficiency had risen.

The moment Fireball’s Proficiency advanced to Grade B.

[Fireball]

>Grade: Legend

>Proficiency: B

-Power Increase +50+(10)

-Mana Explosion +70%+(20%)

-Spin Force +60%+(10%)

-Seeker’s Flame

The numbers on all existing options surged simultaneously.

With this, Fireball’s power was further strengthened.

If form modification were added, its might would become so formidable that no mage could ignore it.

Jun’s eyes went wide.

‘Seeker’s Flame?’

A new effect had been added.

Its name was Seeker’s Flame.