MDPS 20

Chapter 20

50th Floor (3)

The Gatekeeper of the Blood Palace — the Crimson-Armored Commander.

What the hell is this…?

Rumble—

Before the castle wall collapsed, he shot forward like lightning, landing on the ground.

The battle situation was dire.

The soldiers, though elite and well-trained, now flailed as if bound by invisible chains.

Their eyes were full of confusion and fear.

Their movements were unnaturally sluggish—
More precisely, it was as if their movements were being controlled.

The commander instinctively drew his sword.

He had to find the one responsible for this hellscape.

The golem moves with that woman in the black dress, and the red-haired man moves with the red umbrella…

The commander’s gaze fell on Oh Hyunwoo.

It’s him…!

He gathered strength in his legs—

Crack!

The ground split as he shot forward like an arrow, the tip of his sword aiming straight for Hyunwoo’s heart.

I’ll send you off without pain.

But just before the blade touched him, the commander’s body froze in place, as if caught by an invisible hand.

W-what?!

His swordsmanship was precise.

He knew exactly how much strength to put into his legs to reach the enemy lines without fail.

For such a mistake to happen now was unthinkable.

No… is this really a mistake?

As he stood there, bewildered, the sound of footsteps approached.

Tap.

A chill crept up his spine.

The black-dressed sorceress who had already taken down one commander approached.

“Foolish. Did you think my master wouldn’t see through your movements?”

Hyunwoo knew all of the Crimson-Armored Commander’s skills and behavior patterns.

The red armor one prioritized targeting summoners and was a swift swordsman.
The black armor one was a heavy hitter.

When the two fought together, a synergy was triggered—so one had to be eliminated first.

“Herr, handle it.”
“As you wish.”

Herrtia stepped up to the commander and whispered:

“Look. See the soldiers dying because of your incompetence.”

She forcibly turned his head toward the ruined wall, where soldiers were being slaughtered—

Some foaming at the mouth and collapsing from Caligo’s poison.
Others screaming as Temina’s flames consumed them.
Others crushed into crimson pulp by Iron’s fists.

“This is the result of your incompetence.”

Sweat beaded on his brow.
His breathing grew rough.

“There is nothing to fear. You are already dead. Your master of this palace is the one who made you, after all.”

Her voice was both alluring and cruel.

The commander struggled with rising rage and terror.
But he could not move.

Herrtia leaned in to his ear again.

“So close your eyes in peace. With the key you’ve given me, I’ll soon send your master to follow you.”

The commander’s eyes widened in shock, but it was too late—
She tore the key from around his neck in a single motion.

His eyes shook.

Damn it, damn it, damn it…!

He realized in that instant—
The being before him was different.

“Caligo!”

At her gesture, Caligo approached, grinning like a hyena.

“A gift. This one was the most loved by vampires.”
“Really?”

Caligo smiled widely as he stepped toward the commander.

“…What a stench.”

The commander trembled all over.

He wanted to run, but his body hung motionless in black void, feet rooted in place.

He clenched his teeth and tried to resist, but against Herrtia’s power, it was meaningless.

Caligo took out a black flask from his belt and shook it.

“Curious? Heheheh.”

Still chuckling, he explained:

“This is an explosive solution that reacts only to vampire blood. Perfect for exterminating cockroach-like vermin like you.”

The commander’s lips trembled.

Caligo slowly poured the liquid over his head.

The moment the black fluid ran down, the air began to bubble.

Caligo stepped back, and with Herrtia, turned his back to the commander—

BOOM!

A massive explosion sprayed blood and flesh in all directions.

Caligo burst into laughter.

“Ahaha, ahahahaha!”

Leaving him cackling behind, Herrtia handed Hyunwoo the key taken from the commander.

“Master. I have retrieved it.”
“Well done. This area’s secure—let’s move on.”
“Yes, Master.”

They headed deeper into the castle.

The wall they left behind was silent, littered with nothing but red blood and boiling despair.

[Entering the Crimson Plaza.]

The true master of the Blood Palace—the Hidden Boss, Varg.

Before him, a commander knelt with head bowed.

“They say rats have entered my palace?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“They’ve already breached the gate, and now they’ve reached the plaza and are trying to enter the corridor…?”
“That is correct.”
“Who would dare enter the palace at this time—especially with him coming soon?”

Today was the day to welcome an honored guest—
The one who had forged him and given him great power—
The noble vampire, Karmar de Rabl.

“…Stop them in the corridor.”
“I will do my utmost!”
“Your words mean nothing without results. Bring me their heads immediately!”
“Yes, my lord! But… there is something I must ask…”

Varg frowned.

“What is it?”
“Has there been… any leak of information about our palace?”
“What?”
“The intruders knew instantly who held the key from the wall to the plaza. Then, in the plaza, they immediately found the maid holding the corridor key.”
“In the maze-like plaza?”
“Yes. It’s strange how easily they found her.”

A crease formed between Varg’s brows.

Someone who could see straight through his palace…?

Countless adventurers had come before, but none had ever found the way to the corridor.
All ended up in the library, battling the “fake Varg” he had placed there.

No one had ever come to face the real master.

No way…

A certain man’s face flashed through his mind.

A chill ran down his spine.

Impossible. He’s supposed to have died long ago. Otherwise, the rabble who followed him would not be so quiet.

“…The palace’s security is perfect. Stop spouting nonsense and bring me the intruders’ heads! The path to the corridor must never—”

BANG!

The doors to the audience chamber burst open, and a bleeding soldier stumbled in.

“M-my lord! It’s terrible! They’ve found the corridor and gone in!”
“What?!”

Damn it, they were too fast—

An awful dread gripped Varg’s chest.

“What are you waiting for?! Go stop them!”
“Y-yes, sir!”

The commander dragged the wounded soldier away, leaving Varg alone for the first time—
And he trembled with fear.

No… it can’t be that he’s returned…?

The name still a nightmare for vampires—

“…Lucifer.”

[You have defeated the Blood-Starved Maid.]
[You have obtained the Blood Corridor Key.]

As expected, the strategy here is no different from the Legend Seven days.

The Blood Palace hides two boss rooms—
One in the library with the “fake Varg.”
The other in the audience chamber with the real one.

But no one had ever met the true boss—except me.

Most adventurers probably only fought the fake.
Finding the real key was an utter pain.

The Blood-Starved Maid who holds the key to the audience chamber hides behind a wall completely concealed by red spiderwebs.

Most players never found her and went straight to the library.
Given the complaints about the 50th floor all over the forums, the difficulty is obvious.

“Wow… Sage.”

Caligo’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“How did you know something like that was here?”
“If you look carefully, you’ll see it.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“You didn’t notice?”
“No! Not at all!”
“Me neither… not at all,” Herrtia added.

“Master, you truly have senses unlike ours.”

Well, at least these guys appreciate it.

“But Master,” Herrtia said, “I can’t see the way to the corridor.”
“Of course you can’t.”

It wouldn’t do for a hidden boss’s path to be plainly visible.

I walked to the center of the Crimson Plaza.

There stood a fountain, endlessly pouring dark red blood.
The stench was overpowering, soaking the ground.

“Sage!” Caligo hurried forward.

“Let me handle the dirty work! Please step back!”
“No need.”

I stopped him with a raised hand.

“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t find it.”

I walked to the fountain’s center and brushed my hand over the blood-slick surface.
Blood showered down on me, but it was tolerable.

Beneath the sticky flow, my fingertips felt a small metal object—like a dropped coin.

I slowly lifted it.

Creak—

The blood flow began to slow, then stopped entirely.

The hidden keyhole on the central pillar came into view.

I inserted the key we’d taken and turned it—

Boom—

A staircase leading downward appeared.

[You have discovered the True Boss route on the 50th floor for the first time.]
[First Discovery Reward: You have obtained the artifact “Blood-Drinking Grail.”]

A huge message popped up in front of me.

[An unidentified adventurer has discovered the True Boss route on the 50th floor.]

…Perfect.

Now the world’s eyes would turn toward this “unidentified adventurer.”
Guilds, nations—they’d all be scrambling to find me, poking at the Tower of Records.

My grand debut stage was ready.

Now all that’s left…

[Blood-Drinking Grail]
Description: An artifact made from the blood of the Blood Palace soldiers. A summoned creature equipped with it becomes immune to Bleed and removes all ally Bleed debuffs when using non-attack skills.

…is to use this new toy to clear the 50th floor successfully.

“Ready?”
“Your servant awaits your command.”
“My body’s already itching! Hurry, Sage!”

Smirking, I stepped down the blood-slick stairs into the depths below.