Records of Dungeon Travel

#89. The Final Battle

She hoped it was an illusion. But regardless of how many times she checked, the horrible wreckage could only belong to Dominique’s egg. “How dare they!?” Morrigan was furious, glaring at her surroundings so much that it seemed she would immediately tear apart the intruder as soon as she spotted them.

“Wait. Calm down, Black Death Crow,” Heimdall said softly, calming her down. He added, “The defenses in this area are by no means lax.” The Grand Labyrinth’s main forces might have been deployed for the battle, but its defenses weren’t that easy to breach.

The Labyrinth itself was a living, ruthless demon, and it could swallow any intruders harboring evil intentions. On top of that, the Under-Elf Rangers, who would do anything for their master, were carefully patrolling the area. No one would be able to intrude on such a closely protected place, much less enter the deepest site within it.

“What if the egg cracked open by itself?” Heimdall concluded, thinking that was the most likely possibility.

Thanks to that, Morrigan began to calm down. However, she still had her suspicions. “Alright, even if you’re right,” she began as she started looking around the room, searching for traces of Dominique. “Where would she be then?”

***

While Morrigan and the other summons were struggling to locate the missing Dominique, Kim Jin-Woo was facing a final showdown.

“Is that the Ursus’ Labyrinth?” Though Kim Jin-Woo had been born and raised in the Spider Duke’s Labyrinth, he had never had the chance to admire the exterior of a labyrinth. Even on the day he had obtained his freedom, he could only take So-Hee’s hand and leave the labyrinth, still clueless as to what was going on. This was the first time he had ever seen a Labyrinth’s exterior.

The splendor of the labyrinth he had finally witnessed was incredible. Although Daedalus had worked on the exterior appearance of the Grand Labyrinth, it still didn’t look quite as grand despite having expanded its boundaries and continued growing.

In comparison, the Ursus Labyrinth was like an art installation. Kim Jin-Woo murmured, “It’s tremendous.”

The labyrinth’s entrance was wide enough for five High Ursus to pass through, and it was still magnificent without any decorations adorning it. Beyond the entrance was a bright passageway made of transparent ice walls that refracted the light passing through. It was beautiful, resembling a gigantic crystal, but it was so cold it overshadowed the Grand Labyrinth, which had the title of Frost. It was indeed fit for a Duke.

“Luyang was a fool who couldn’t even prove himself,” Kim Jin-Woo remarked upon realizing how shameless Luyang had been when he acquired a Duke’s power.

Roooooooar.

Kim Jin-Woo came to his senses upon hearing the sudden roar, and saw the Taurus cheering.

“Regardless of their numbers, they wouldn’t attack immediately without catching a breather, right?” Angela asked with a frown, as she watched the Taurus Ogres start stomping across the ground.

Though they marched leisurely, the distance the Ogres covered was still quite significant. It would be the worst move they could make if they were to launch an attack unaware of an underlying trap waiting for them. But the Taurus commander thought differently. As the situation slowly came to a head, the Taurus’ discipline seemed too good to be true.

“It seems your guess was right.” Kim Jin-Woo shook his head and headed toward the Ursus’ Labyrinth.

He had hoped the Taurus would drag it out a little more; even if the battle had started, he had hoped to at least fully grasp the movements of the approaching army from the east before commencing his attack.

“Rikshasha, what’s the situation looking like now?” Kim Jin-Woo asked.

“The east army is less than a day’s distance away from here and has stopped advancing. Unfortunately, their final destination is still unknown,” Rikshasha reported.

“Tell the Taurus that I would like to set up a meeting with their Duke,” Kim Jin-Woo ordered, and the imp girl headed over reluctantly.

***

The Duke appeared for the meeting but rejected Kim Jin-Woo’s suggestion to delay the attack and take note of the eastern army’s movements.

“Tsk, I thought something happened when you requested to meet…” the Duke said. Kim Jin-Woo had thought that the vague movements of the eastern army would make their plans go astray, but it seemed the Duke had expected it. Otherwise, there was no reason for the Taurus to push on with the attack with a suspicious army stationed nearby.

“It seems all of this has to come to an end to see what their real intentions are,” Kim Jin-Woo said. If the Taurus King had used the Duke of the East Labyrinth as their trump card, then Kim Jin-Woo’s trump card was the Dragon Emperor. And it was obvious to him that the Dragon Emperor was exceptionally strong in the Underworld.

The Dragon Emperor’s survival was evidence of that, as the Underworld was filled with lies, hypocrisy, deceit, and betrayal, even with the Drakans’ unique penalty that required one to speak only the truth.

“I don’t quite trust the Drakan,” Angela said. She had no doubts about the Dragon Emperor’s abilities, but seemed to have trouble finding the messenger, Ortehaga, reliable.

On the contrary, Kim Jin-Woo looked quite relaxed as he reassured her, “Don’t worry.” Angela looked curiously at Kim Jin-Woo, who smirked in return and said, “Ortehaga is the best snitch in the Underworld.”

Ortehaga wasn’t trying to restore his honor alone, and was instead relying on his family’s power, as he knew the influence his father held in the Underworld. Since he hadn’t hesitated to borrow that power, using Ortehaga as a messenger was the most fitting.

“It’s great, in a way.” Angela laughed dejectedly at Kim Jin-Woo’s absurd remark.

As their conversation continued, the Taurus envoy came over to check if Kim Jin-Woo had completed all his preparations for battle, signaling that the battle was imminent.

Stomp.

Just then, the Taurus Ogres began stomping their feet in unison, making their advance. The spirits of the Taurus army seemed to have soared higher than ever, perhaps due to the fact that they were having a showdown with their long-standing foe.

“Roooooooar!” The Taurus Ogres applied war paint to their faces, threw the dead High Ursus’ bodies at the Labyrinth’s entrance, and roared.

The smell of blood started spreading even before the battle began.

“They’re insulting the High Ursus warriors.” The imp girl interpreted, frowning at the Taurus’ cries.

“Are they trying to provoke them?” Kim Jin-Woo wondered.

The proud Ursus might have been insulted, but they remained in their Labyrinth. However, it didn’t mean they were insensitive to the Taurus’ atrocities. Their strong bloodthirst could be felt a long way from the silent Labyrinth.

Kim Jin-Woo shook off that tingling feeling and clicked his tongue at the Taurus who was babbling on with his head held high. “What a shallow trick.”

The Taurus seemed to have turned the area outside the Labyrinth into a battlefield. Looking at the current situation, with the Ursus having the upper hand, it would be much more beneficial to attract the Ursus out.

However, there was no way that method would work. It was the Ursus who had led the Taurus to where they were now at the expense of ten thousand of their elites. There was no way they would be swayed by that level of provocation.

The Taurus seemed to be well aware of that fact, seeing as they weren’t disappointed by the Ursus’ silent treatment. At the same time, with fluctuating spirits, their frontline started moving once more in the same direction.

“Hmm…” Kim Jin-Woo watched the Taurus vanguard walk away from the labyrinth’s entrance.

“When shall we make our move?” Angela asked.

“We’ll drag out our participation as late into the battle as possible. We have to see to it that everyone who was involved from the start is dead,” Kim Jin-Woo answered, narrowing his eyes.

He couldn’t imagine what kind of trap the Ursus had set up for the Taurus, such that they would be willing to sacrifice ten thousand of their elites. It would be ideal to join in only after the trap had been completely revealed.

Kim Jin-Woo observed the Taurus King. The king was so focused on the vanguard that he didn’t take notice of what the Vampires were doing.

“I’m quite curious about that trap,” Kim Jin-Woo said, although he had no intention of trying it out himself.

***

How long had it been? More than half the entire Taurus army had entered the Ursus Labyrinth, yet the Ursus remained silent. Soon, the roaring Taurus stopped their cries, and only their haggard breathing could be heard.

“Are they waiting for a heads up?” Kim Jin-Woo wondered, remaining in place as he glanced at the Taurus King.

The Taurus King had a presence unlike all the other Taurus; he was watching the procession of his men with a mysterious expression.

“Now, what will you do? If you don’t make your move, this battle won’t start,” Kim Jin-Woo muttered expectantly despite his honest appearance, trying to figure out what the Taurus King would do.

“Master.” Just then, Rikshasha approached with a serious expression. “The eastern army has started marching again.”

“Their direction?” Kim Jin-Woo asked, waiting for an answer.

“To the north, toward this location,” Rikshasha answered.

Kim Jin-Woo let out a sigh of relief, as the Grand Labyrinth wouldn’t be exposed to the battle. He had always paid more attention to the Grand Labyrinth instead of the battle itself, so it was great news to him.

Even so, he couldn’t let his guard down entirely. The Labyrinth was out of danger, but he was still on the battlefield, and his opponents were much stronger than any he had ever faced. All three of them were Dukes, monsters who had been ruling for years.

“Master, the commander has moved,” Angela reported, and Kim Jin-Woo turned around. He spotted the Taurus King moving with his bodyguards following behind.

“His bodyguards are moving with him,” Kim Jin-Woo said. The Ursus were after the Taurus’ ruler; thus, the battle would occur wherever he was. But Kim Jin-Woo, too, had to follow the Taurus King. The place where the darkest of dangers lurked on the battlefield would be the King’s own banquet hall[1].

***

As Kim Jin-Woo stepped into the Ursus’ Labyrinth, following behind the Taurus, a shadow had been tailing him from afar.

Shashasha.

Despite its even gait, the speed at which it moved was strangely fast. It moved stealthily and swiftly without rest.

“Haa, haa.” The shadow occasionally panted, as if it had traveled a long distance, but didn’t stop even for a moment. At first glance, it seemed to be chasing something or being chased.

“Please wait a bit more; I’m on the way.” The shadow caught its breath briefly and picked up speed once more.

1. The author uses a metaphor here; in this case, it refers to the king’s last stand. ?