00820 The Abyss of Annihilation
After descending the stairs, the expedition party immediately resumed their exploration.
The second underground floor was so intricately tangled it resembled an anthill. The corridors were narrow, yet the spaces twisted and overlapped so confusingly that one wrong step could easily lead to getting lost.
Once they moved beyond the entrance, the traps began activating in earnest. These weren’t crude tricks like sudden arrows or rolling stones. The passages would abruptly narrow until the walls nearly touched, or spikes would shoot up from the floor the moment someone stepped inside a chamber.
On one occasion, while the mages rested to replenish their depleted mana, the entire floor collapsed beneath them the instant they sat down. Had Kim Suhyun not caught Kim Hanbyul in time, she might have been lost forever. In the end, they barely escaped, standing breathless and laughing nervously at the close call.
But that wasn’t all. Whether walking or resting, a constant rustling sound—like the scuttling of many-legged insects—scratched at their ears. Several times they halted to carefully investigate, but each time the sound vanished as if it were a ghost.
As these incidents repeated, the clan members’ nerves grew taut. They no longer even knew where they were walking. Once inside the ruins, the concept of day and night vanished; they relied solely on a handful of glowing orbs to light their way, mechanically following Kim Suhyun’s lead.
At least there were two small comforts. First, the eerie rustling from the walls had ceased. Second, thanks to someone’s efforts, they had begun to detect the traps lurking all around.
That someone was none other than Geunwon. As the frequency of traps increased, he began actively using the ‘Battlefield Analysis’ he had demonstrated on the first underground floor. Unlike a mage’s ‘Magical Fortification,’ this ability stemmed from a ‘super-aggregated information system’—in other words, it was Geunwon’s unique power.
Of course, it wasn’t infallible. If he were at full strength, like in the Astral Dimension, it might be near perfect. But currently, Geunwon’s output barely reached 40% of his maximum. This was after absorbing the knowledge of the ancient magical city of Magia and recovering with the Witch of the Flower set. Traps requiring the exceptional 60% output went unnoticed—proof that the mages who built this abyss long ago possessed extraordinary knowledge.
Thud, thud. Thud, thud.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the dark corridors. Their pace was so weighted it was as if they carried a thousand-pound burden on their legs. Indeed, the clan members’ shoulders sagged slightly, and sometimes their feet dragged. After more than half a day walking dusty, hole-riddled paths, fatigue was inevitable. The intermittent noises and oppressive atmosphere weighed on their minds, and the mages, having maintained light magic for hours, were especially drained.
Suddenly, the lead’s pace slowed. When Kim Suhyun’s footsteps came to a complete stop, a massive iron door appeared before the party. Its surface was heavily rusted with streaks of red and green, tightly shut as if it had never been opened in ages. Kim Suhyun examined it carefully, found nothing unusual, then placed both hands on it and pushed with all his might. The door screamed.
Creak, screech! With an unpleasant noise, the iron door swung open, revealing a chamber. Roughly 100 meters wide and 200 meters long, the space was peculiarly hollowed out on both sides except for the center—like an enlarged bowling alley lane. The side walls and ceiling were made of solid stone, not earth, and bore no inscriptions. At the far end, a door led to the next corridor. No matter what, they had to pass through.
Of course, no one was foolish enough to charge in blindly. They had suffered too many setbacks already. Instead, they sighed heavily and stared at the room with weary eyes.
“What kind of room is this…?”
Someone muttered, and Kim Suhyun bent down, scooping a handful of dirt from the floor. He kneaded it firmly, then hurled it forward with all his strength. At that moment—
Whoooosh!
A red light seeped from the ceiling, radiating intense heat. The dirt clump barely flew five meters before melting instantly, vanishing without a trace. Kim Suhyun’s expression remained indifferent, while the others frowned or squinted, staring into the chamber.
After a moment, all eyes focused on one spot. Instead of immediately activating his battlefield analysis, Geunwon quietly murmured a spell under his breath.
“Just once.”
“…?”
“I can only use battlefield analysis here one more time. My mana isn’t sufficient.”
“Hmm.”
Kim Suhyun nodded, granting permission. Geunwon whispered the incantation, and his robe fluttered in a sudden gust. His sharp eyes pierced the walls and ceiling.
“…I’ve detected forty-four permanent magical formations. Each is intricately interlocked, designed like dragons to annihilate intruders. They activate sequentially the moment anyone steps inside. Some are in forms I don’t recognize.”
When the explanation ended, the clan fell silent as if by unspoken agreement. Geunwon’s words meant there were effectively forty-four mages trapped in the room—each continuously casting spells without pause. While low-level magic like ‘Magic Missile’ might be possible, there was no way they could risk it.
“…What do we do?”
“Ah, we should’ve brought Haneul with us.”
“First, let’s cast all the protective shields we can…”
“Everyone, gather around me.”
As they exchanged uncertain suggestions, a strong voice snapped everyone to attention.
Kim Suhyun scanned the clan calmly and spoke.
“The numbers work out perfectly. The melee fighters will carry the mages.”
“…Ah!”
Jeagal Haesol, quick-witted as ever, exclaimed. The others who had joined the ‘Glacier Snowfield’ expedition immediately understood the plan. After a brief murmur, a strange energy began to flow. Kim Suhyun blinked. Instead of simply carrying one by one, eight women formed a circle, quietly gazing at each other.
Kim Hanbyul, stretching her hands, glanced sideways and squinted.
“Yujeong unnie?”
“Yeah.”
“Aren’t you melee?”
“Yeah.”
“Yoo Yujeong, don’t joke around.”
“…Yes.”
Go Yeonju gave a stern look, eyes sharp. Yoo Yujeong hesitated, stepping back slightly, then shot a resentful glance. But Go Yeonju ignored her and raised her hand high.
“Alright. Shall we? Rock, paper, scissors!”
Go Yeonju threw down her hand—scissors. But except for Go Yeonju, Nam Daeun, and Lim Hanna, no one else made a move. They just stared blankly. It was a silent uproar.
Go Yeonju chuckled and raised her hand again.
“Come on, then…”
“Go Yeonju, stop joking.”
At that moment, a sharp rebuke cut through the air. Go Yeonju clicked her tongue and stepped back, and Nam Daeun and Lim Hanna sulked. Yoo Yujeong smirked triumphantly, while the remaining four women finally raised their hands.
“Rock, paper, scissors!”
They threw their hands down simultaneously.
“I won! I won!”
A clear cheer followed.
“Hehehe.”
Vivian jumped up and down excitedly, then quickly threw herself into Kim Suhyun’s arms. Like a child, she wriggled, and when Kim Suhyun’s left hand supported her hips, she sighed contentedly and smiled brightly. As Kim Suhyun gently rubbed Vivian’s back, the weary women began pairing off one by one.
Before long, silence returned. Geunwon was embraced by Yoo Yujeong, Jeong Hayeon by Go Yeonju, Kim Hanbyul by Nam Daeun, and Jeagal Haesol by Lim Hanna. Jin Suhyun stood alone, his face somber. Confirming everyone was ready, Kim Suhyun quietly looked ahead.
“Then.”
Whoooosh!
As Kim Suhyun spoke, a crimson barrier burst forth from his chest, enveloping the clan in a protective sphere. The fortress of Gehenna had been activated. It boasted tremendous defensive power but consumed mana at an extreme rate. Even maintaining it drained energy exponentially; defending against external attacks was even more costly.
Fully aware of this, Kim Suhyun bent his knees. Someone took a deep breath.
“Let’s go.”
With a simultaneous stomp, the six stepped through the door.
Whoooosh, whoooosh, whoooosh!
Screeeech!
A flash of red light filled their vision. The chamber heated rapidly from the fiery heat pouring down from the ceiling. Without the barrier, they would have melted instantly in the searing blaze.
After passing the 100-meter mark, a sudden flash of blue light streaked across the scene. This time, a white frost began to cloud their vision. The dirt path cracked sharply, as if rapidly heating up and then cooling down in an instant.
Then a flash of yellow light followed. Now it was almost like a downpour. A magical storm—a chaotic mix of heat, cold, and lightning—pounded fiercely against the crimson barrier. Yet, true to its name as a fortress, the orb held firm without the slightest tremor, steadfastly defending them. Bolstered by this, the expedition focused solely on pushing forward. Before they knew it, they had nearly reached the end of the path.
“I’ll open it!” Jinsu-hyun, unheard until now, moved to the very front inside the barrier. As soon as she reached the gate, she sprinted forward with all her might and shoved against the door. For a moment, it hesitated, then suddenly yanked back hard. No matter how much she struggled, the heavy iron door wouldn’t budge. In that instant, a faint light seemed to flicker along the top of the door.
Jinsu-hyun spun around, panic etched across her face.
“I-it won’t open!”
“What do you mean it won’t open?!”
Yoo-jeong, who had just set down her spear, dashed forward and delivered a swift kick.
But—
“Ahhh!”
With a thud, Yoo-jeong was sent sprawling, tumbling across the dirt floor. If Ko Yeon-ju hadn’t quickly blocked her with her foot, she might have been flung outside.
“It won’t open…?”
Yoo-jeong muttered in a daze as she struggled to regain her senses. Then, suddenly alert, she looked up. The room was now so thick with magic that they couldn’t see an inch ahead. Perhaps because of that, the crimson barrier began to tremble violently.
Jung Ha-yeon gritted her teeth and shouted, “The door! Just now, I saw Jin’s figure appear on the door!”
“Damn it, the door’s enchanted too?”
As someone cursed under their breath, Kim Soo-hyun stepped forward once again. Flames flickered in his right hand as he touched the door. The light seeped gently into the iron, sweeping over its surface. When the barrier’s trembling intensified, the glow suddenly went out. With a light push, the door clanged open, splitting cleanly in two to reveal the next chamber.
Kim Soo-hyun’s composure was unshakable—calm and collected. Though he possessed the latent ability called “Mind’s Eye,” no crisis seemed capable of rattling him.
“Hmm… Ah, is this it?” Soo-hyun murmured as he stepped inside, his words barely audible.
“Won’t you come in?” he called after a moment, motioning them forward.
But to those watching, Soo-hyun’s presence felt strangely otherworldly, as if he were alone in a different realm.
At last, the mercenary clan members began to stir, slowly coming to their senses.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
With this, we’ve passed the halfway point in the Abyssal Void raid. Honestly, the goal of this episode wasn’t the dungeon itself but something else entirely. Originally, I planned it to be about as long as the Glacier Legend expedition, but I cut it down drastically. Since the focus was different, I wanted to highlight other elements rather than the raid.
Oh, and about the phrase “선도하다” (seondo-hada)—it’s not a typo. It means to lead or guide from the front, to take the lead and show the way. Please interpret it along those lines.
The long holiday has come to an end. I hope all readers have a peaceful night. Let’s kick that Monday blues to the curb with energy!