Chaser (2)
Although it was one of the Four Prohibited Areas, the Grand Maze Kaltan was somewhat different.
The Ice-Flame Forest Hithran, Tower Mountain Rufus, and Floating Island Avalta were not technically ‘Dungeons.’
Those were the names of the ‘regions’ where all kinds of powerful Dungeons frequently appeared.
Kaltan, on the other hand, was a huge Dungeon in itself.
It was a vast mystery the size of a small country. A continuous battle occurred there.
It was a structure in which another Dungeon existed inside the Dungeon.
It was almost impossible to enter the far-reaching space and find an individual inside randomly.
Upon arriving at the forbidden city of Serkaltan, Han-bin’s group immediately collected information on the Sword King Baotolt.
He didn’t receive much attention from the public for visiting the Sword King.
There were already many such people in Serkaltan.
Many Hunters visited Sword King to learn from him, borrow his power, or gain fame under his command.
As such, there was a lot of information related to him in the Hunter Guild.
The number of Hunters the Sword King had taught or had attacked the Dungeon with him was small.
Surprisingly, Baotolt wasn’t someone who evaded people.
“But why do the legends say that the Sword King is a maverick?”
Kibie giggled at the question of Artis.
“It’s true he’s a maverick.”
Baotolt wasn’t tough.
If anyone wanted to be his colleague, Baotolt easily accepted it, saying, “Do whatever you want.”
“And then he does whatever he wants.”
Regardless of whether his colleagues followed him or not, he jumped against the monsters as he pleased. The problem was that only three people could hold their ground against the great Sword King’s power!
Even though they moved together as a team, they suddenly disappeared and did not return.
As a result, many people fought together with him, but no one could claim to be his equal.
“… Baotolt must be a man who only focuses on his own path.”
Han-bin murmured.
Kibie gave him a bitter smile.
“He is such a person.”
According to intelligence, the latest Sword King’s trail discovered was a year ago in the Kartrack Dungeon in the Grand Maze.
“Let’s aim for that.”
It’s been a year, so it’s unlikely that he was still staying in Kartrack until that time, but…
“If we find traces of the Sword King, we can get a clue with Shadow-Reading.”
Believing Kibie’s promise, Han-bin and his party prepared to enter the Grand Maze.
They were targetting the world’s strongest and worst Dungeons.
They could never do their preparation carelessly.
Fortunately, there was no need to buy extra weapons.
Ryu Han-bin smiled, pointing to his black greatsword.
“I can’t even use Magic Tools anyway, so all I need is this sword.”
The same was true of Kibie.
“This spear is enough for me.”
Artis and Effir had some of the finest equipment that had been in place for a long time.
“I’m finally going to use these Magic Tools! Oh, it’s been too long.”
Effir heartily laughed as she took out bracelets, belts, and gantlets from her Space Pocket.
[Absolute Cure Bracelet (Artifact)]
[Absolute Healing Bracelet (Artifact)]
[Absolute Healing Belt (Artifact)]
[Absolute Cure Gauntlet (Artifact)]
[Absolute Healing Boots (Artifact)]
Those were the Magic Tools they looted from Alejandro, a Great Earth member who had attacked them before.
“Back then, it was like a pie in the sky because of the level limit…”
“Now that we’re both above level 70, we can finally use them.”
They worked hard to digest as much absorbed energy as possible while they moved towards Serkaltan.
In their spare time, they stopped by a nearby Dungeon to hunt additional monsters.
Thanks to that, Artis and Effir had gone up to Level 71 Mage and Level 72 Magic Swordsman.
Artis looked relieved as they shared the healing items.
“This will fill some of the absence of a Spiritist.”
She also changed her weapon.
Effir sold her previous twin blades and wielded the left sword, Style, and right sword, Zerohalt, which Alejandro used.
Artis got a new staff to replace his long-loved red crystal rod.
[Spell-Saving Staff (Artifact)
Special Ability: Up to 5 types of magic can be stored in advance and activated simultaneously.
Usage Conditions: Lv. 70. Ten times a day.]
It was an Artifact used by the Mage Maxwell, who attacked the group in Serhithran.
Ryu Han-bin smashed Ruslan’s sword and sold Grace’s robe since it was only for Spiritists, but he kept the staff in good condition.
After they were armed, they visited Serkaltan’s general store.
They didn’t know how long it would take to search for the Sword King, so they had to bring as many supplies as much as possible.
They bought at least three months’ worth of food and daily necessities. It’s been three days since they left Serkaltan after finishing all preparations.
Han-bin and his party were able to reach Lion Rock, where the eastern entrance of Kaltan, the Grand Maze, was located.
* * *
As its name implied, Lion Rock was a large rocky mountain that looked like a lion lying face down.
A large fortress was built in the middle of the rocky mountain.
It was Fort East Kaltan, where the entrance to the Grand Maze was located.
Looking around the fortress, Ryu Han-bin put his tongue out.
“This is a lot bigger than the entrance to Hithran.”
Unlike ordinary Dungeons, the Four Prohibited Areas were strictly managed at the national level.
The monsters there were at least level 50.
If such monsters were released to Latna, they would cause serious problems.
Therefore, the Continental Top Three installed a huge monitoring network in the Four Prohibited Areas to prevent the monsters from escaping to the outside world.
It was practically impossible to monitor all Dungeons, so they concentrated their power on the most dangerous places.
The Continental Top Three’s duty was to manage the Hunters who wanted to attack the Four Prohibited Areas.
If they opened Prohibited Areas to anyone, the number of casualties would’ve been too high.
There were too many people in the world who would recklessly jump in for the sake of fame and glory.
Some could be wondering why they should stop people who wanted to lose their lives. But at the national level, those were unnecessary losses of valuable talents.
Naturally, it was beneficial in terms of macro-interest to verify the level and let only qualified people in.
Barriers and light barriers also surrounded the Ice-Flame Forest, so Han-bin and his companions had to prove their level at the entrance whenever they came in and out.
“But in the case of Ice-Flame Forest, it was more of an outpost where only a few Mages stayed in a few tents. It wasn’t a full-fledged fortress.”
Artis shrugged at Han-bin’s words.
“The levels of monsters are different between the other Prohibited Areas and the Grand Maze. That’s how high the level of management will be.”
As they entered the fortress, it became even more evident.
Most of the troops were above level 70.
There were almost fifty such people.
Earthlings would wonder they couldn’t be an army with only fifty people, but they were only insufficient by Earth’s standards.
If more than fifty strong people above level 70 came together, it was enough to be called an army in Latna.
Han-bin and his party continued to climb along the side streets of the fortress buildings.
They soon reached a big cave in the middle of the mountain.
It was the Lion Gate, the eastern entrance of the Grand Maze.
Effir’s eyes widened.
“Oh, there are passengers!”
A group of young Hunter teams was scuffling with gatekeepers at the entrance to the cave.
“Wow! How can you seek the Grand Maze with an average level of 65!”
“We’ve even killed a monster around level 70! Levels don’t mean everything.”
“But I can’t allow it! Rules are rules!”
They failed to reach level 70 and were rejected at the entrance, preventing them from raiding Kaltan.
“There are people like you sometimes. They are not good enough, but they want to enter the Grand Maze recklessly.”
In a familial tone, the gatekeeper began to persuade them.
“Wake up, young man. How sad would your parents be if they knew their child had died?”
One frustrated Hunter got angry.
“No, I’d be dead by then. Why would it even matter?”
The gatekeeper became angry in return.
“Why wouldn’t it matter? Is human life so trivial to you? A young man with a bright future says he’s going into the jaws of death. Any sane being would stop him!”
Watching the scene, Han-bin was impressed.
‘Wow, they’re really good people…’
They were not just gatekeepers.
They were all in their Level 70s.
He was also an advanced force to prevent the expansion of the Grand Maze Kaltan and prevent the monsters from coming out.
In fact, with that level of skills, it would’ve been better for them to attack the Dungeon themselves. They could’ve earned more money and live much more freely.
Nevertheless, they abandoned their greed and did their duties for the sake of the world.
It was someone’s job.
‘The gatekeepers in the Four Prohibited Areas are respected among Hunters, huh?’
Eventually, the Hunter team, which was denied entry, sighed and went down.
It was Han-bin’s turn.
Artis and Effir handed over their Hunter IDs.
“Level 71 Mages and level 72 Magic Swordsman?”
The gatekeeper, who checked their ID card, looked at Effir.
“You look young, but you’re very talented.”
He also checked the ID cards of Ryu Han-bin and Kibie.
“You two are Valtara warriors, aren’t you? Then I can’t confirm your levels…”
They already experienced similar situations in the Ice-Flame Forest.
Ryu Han-bin and Kibie took out their weapons as if they expected the guard’s reaction.
Zoom!
They wrapped red and black Blade Auras around their greatsword and spear.
The gatekeeper’s complexion had slightly hardened.
“Y-you’re strong…”
There was no need to check anymore.
With that intense Aura alone, it was certain that the two were at least level 80.
“Go in, please. I wish you good luck. May the protection of Kybriel be with you.”
According to the greeting, he was probably a member of the Darkness Church.
Entering the cave, Kibie smiled bitterly.
“… I’m sorry. I haven’t heard that in a while.”
* * *
Serhithran was a forbidden city in the Ice-Flame Forest.
Almara and Saltus, the two Dragons, skillfully collected information about Darkness incarnation’s group throughout the city.
They were adept at collecting information from humans despite being Dragons since, during their youth, they lived among humans while hiding their true identity.
Only high-leveled information-gathering skills increased their chances of survival.
The number of groceries and daily necessities purchased by the Darkness incarnation’s group gave an approximate estimate of their distance to the destination.
They also inadvertently put the word ‘level restriction 70’ in their mouths while talking, which was also an important clue.
Saltus reached a conclusion after gathering information.
“They’re heading for Serkaltan.”
In time for the regular report, Almara informed Hollien of what they learned.
“It seems like the Darkness incarnate is headed for the Grand Maze of Kaltan.”
The blue-haired Nymph in the Crystal Sphere had a strange look on her face.
“… Kaltan?”
“Yes. Do you have any idea why she’d go there?”
Hollien remained silent for a while as if she was thinking.
She soon came back to her usual self after
“Okay, then head to Serkaltan. I’ll power it up there.”
“Noted.”
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