"This is the S-rank Dungeon. Others have challenged this Dungeon several times, but none have come out alive. But this time will be different."
"Yes!"
"Because I, Kang Cheon, an S-rank fire-type Esper, will be leading the charge. Don’t be afraid, just follow my command. Then we’ll all make it out alive! Understood?"
"Yes! Understood!"
From inside Kim Wooju’s chest pocket, I stole glances at the situation outside.
Because it was a large-scale Dungeon, there were fifty Espers and more than ten Guides gathered, and the one overseeing them all seemed to be Kang Cheon.
They didn’t know Kang Cheon’s true nature, just fell for appearances and followed him blindly.
I looked around, just in case there might be another familiar face like Kang Cheon’s.
But I didn’t see one.
Well, of course there wasn’t.
The main characters of this episode were Kang Cheon and Kim Wooju. Everyone else was nothing more than extras.
All of them were doomed to die here in this Dungeon.
The only survivors would be Kang Cheon and Kim Wooju.
Kang Cheon would shove Wooju into danger at every critical moment to ensure his own survival.
That rotten bastard.
'Let’s see if you get away with that.'
I changed my mind.
Originally, I had planned to let Kang Cheon live, as in the original. But there’s no way I can just let him be.
Compared to Kim Wooju, Kang Cheon’s role wasn’t even that important.
In short, his presence didn’t matter.
The villain Kim Wooju alone was enough. There was no need for an annoying mastermind pulling strings in the background.
After agonizing all night, I finally reached my conclusion.
I would drag that filthy shadow out into the open….
"Alright! Everyone, move out!"
At his words, everyone charged into the Dungeon.
From inside, I felt Wooju’s hand gently hold onto me, as if he was worried.
At that cautious touch, I tapped his hand twice, pointing forward as if to say not to worry.
It meant: let’s go.
Wooju seemed to understand, giving a small nod before entering the Dungeon last.
***
I shut my eyes tight, then opened them.
'This will work, right? It has to… it absolutely has to. Please….'
I had been worried that, because I was a Dungeon Boss, I wouldn’t be able to enter other Dungeons. But thankfully, with a flash of blinding light, I felt myself transported inside as well.
The air inside was completely different from outside.
Familiar, suffocating Dungeon air. I let out a sigh of relief.
The worst-case scenario had been avoided.
So, let’s see what kind of Dungeon this is.
In the webtoon’s narrative, Wooju’s ordeal was glossed over quickly—only a few key scenes like his torture and being abandoned were shown. So the Dungeon itself wasn’t really described.
Curiosity gnawed at me. Careful not to get noticed, I poked my head slightly out of the pocket and looked around. And then I couldn’t help but gasp.
'This place is…!'
An endless desert.
Blazing sun that felt suffocating just to look at, not a single tree in sight. Just standing still in this Dungeon made sweat pour down your body.
The atmosphere was the complete opposite of my own Dungeon, and I looked around in shock.
I knew each Dungeon had a different environment, but feeling it firsthand was something else entirely.
"Just as reported. At the end of this desert, the Boss will be waiting. Be ready for monsters to appear. Espers, prioritize protecting the Guides as we advance!"
"Yes!"
"Kim Wooju."
"…Yeah."
"Stick close to me. And carry the water, too…."
Kang Cheon called out to Wooju, who had been standing off alone, unable to blend with anyone else.
To outsiders it might look like he was looking out for Wooju, but in reality it meant: stay close so you can be my shield when things get bad.
Wooju knew it, but he couldn’t resist.
Silently, he walked toward Kang Cheon.
'…Hey, hey! Remember the act. The act!'
I tapped Wooju’s chest lightly.
The acting I drilled into him before we came here!
Wooju seemed to remember only after my nudging. He stumbled slightly, pretending to struggle as he walked.
Better than expected, his acting was convincing.
Kang Cheon, though, scowled, clearly displeased at Wooju’s pathetic appearance.
I looked on with satisfaction.
Wooju carried water packs stuffed with bottles, one in each hand and another strapped to his back.
Even though it was obvious he looked sickly, no one offered to help.
I didn’t like it, but for now I just observed.
Then it happened.
"Monsters approaching from this direction!"
Because the desert stretched open, we could see them coming.
Dozens of crimson scorpion-like monsters crawling toward us.
Each one the size of a grown man’s torso.
'God, disgusting…'
"Form ranks! Long-range Espers, fire first! Close-combat types, handle them once they’re near! Move fast!"
Kang Cheon took command calmly.
Around him floated several fireballs, each the size of a human head, blazing with flame.
At his gesture, they shot toward the scorpions, exploding on impact. The monsters shrieked—"Kieeehhk!"—their bodies burning as they writhed in agony.
'Huh, not bad….'
Guess he really is S-rank, after all….
The others, too, seemed to be quite strong Espers. Together, they dealt with the scorpions smoothly.
Well, we were still at the entrance. It couldn’t end so soon.
Just in case, I cast a shield over Wooju as well.
He couldn’t be harmed.
Wooju, though, didn’t even blink. He just stared blankly at the fight, as if all of this was too familiar.
Soon the fight was over.
"Injured, head to the healing Espers. Don’t drop your guard—there may still be monsters ahead… Wooju, hand out water to the tired Espers."
Wooju nodded obediently, staggering as if in pain, handing out bottles one by one.
Through illusion magic, I made wounds appear all over his body, and even his face looked pale.
But not one of them cared.
Not even a word of thanks as he handed out water.
'They all deserve to die….'
I glared at them viciously.
At that moment, Kang Cheon’s urgent voice rang out again.
"Monsters! Everyone up!"
Without a moment’s rest, another wave swarmed in, and everyone scrambled to form ranks again.
No wonder this was an S-rank Dungeon.
Where the hell were all these monsters coming from?
Even as I marveled at the endless hordes, I never forgot to protect Wooju, making sure he didn’t get caught up in the chaos.
Better add a few more wounds through illusion.
If Wooju looks too unharmed, it’ll be suspicious.
'Well then, let’s see how long they can last….'
Everything was ready.
Time to watch.
I let my eyes glint with cruelty and began to savor their life-or-death struggle with fascination.
***
'I’m going insane. Seriously!'
Kang Cheon felt like he was losing his mind at the way things were going.
He remembered the warning of the single Esper who had barely escaped alive. He had sworn it was nothing but a monster field and begged them never to go in.
But Kang Cheon had scoffed.
So what?
Since it was a Dungeon of his own grade, he had dismissed the A-rank Esper’s warning as exaggeration.
This was the highest-grade Dungeon discovered so far.
If Kang Cheon closed it, he’d become more famous than ever.
Still, he hadn’t been careless.
He had prepared meticulously, in case of the unexpected, before coming here.
He had gathered skilled Espers, even drilled them in formation before entering.
He was sure they’d close the Dungeon quickly and he’d come out a hero.
But once inside, this was beyond anything he imagined.
'Damn it… at this rate, we’re really going to die.'
He had been through many Dungeons before, but never one like this, where monsters regenerated without pause.
Other Dungeons at least gave you a breather. But this one never did. Being wide open desert, he thought monster ambushes wouldn’t be a concern. Instead, the opposite—it left them vulnerable to endless attacks from all sides. It was a living hell.
There was no time to drink, no time to reorganize. The only way forward was to keep fighting blindly.