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Chapter 223
“Celtic Bio?”
“…?”
Lieutenant Colonel Gaius tilted his head in confusion as Captain Aeson suddenly stepped closer to him.
Even though they had been in the same dungeon for nearly a month, opportunities for just the two of them to converse were rare.
And yet…
“The merger of Lumenus Pharmaceutical and Tasakin Oracle.”
“…!”
“Judging by your expression, you’re a Celticker after all.”
“N-no way!?”
Captain Aeson stared off into space, lost in thought.
“I still believe the R12 gene-protein binding structure simply met the wrong era.”
“This… This is unbelievable! To meet a comrade in a place like this!”
Lieutenant Colonel Gaius put the cigarette he was about to light back into his case and clasped Aeson’s hand.
‘Celticker’ was once a term used to mock followers of companies that had caused a biotech frenzy in the stock market. The followers themselves proudly considered their foresight superior.
“I think the same as you, Captain! Our vision wasn’t wrong! The world was. Everyone only wanted drugs they could see immediately, no one cared about basic research!”
“What we believed to be the future was simply ahead of its time.”
“We were just a step ahead of everyone else… yet no one could wait even that short while…!”
“Did you know? The data sequences still appear in my dreams.”
“How could someone think exactly like me!”
The two tended to each other’s wounds, engaging in a conversation that no one else could understand for a long time.
Between them, a bond beyond factional logic had quietly formed.
“No wonder…! From the first time I met you, I sensed you were extraordinary…!!”
“I thought the same when I first saw Lieutenant Colonel Gaius… haha. It’s amazing to have a friend I can converse so well with, right here.”
“It’s a pity we couldn’t speak sooner due to factional logic.”
“It’s fine. From now on, we can fully discuss the foresight we share.”
“Haha. True enough. But still, I can’t help wishing I’d met you earlier.”
“Why?”
“I have a good friend. I’ll introduce you when the chance comes. The vice president of Black Maria was actually a Celticker like us.”
“The one who massacred Ilaila?”
From the outside, it seemed as if they had been friends for over ten years. They were now speaking informally, too. Those around them could only watch, bewildered.
“In that sense,”
“Isn’t it obvious that the blue-chip stocks we found this time will soar eventually?”
Their gaze turned simultaneously to the front of the group.
It was Lee Hyun.
Kwak-kwang!!
Ever since the dungeon’s entrance to the temple had suddenly opened, Lee Hyun had been taking the lead, clearing the narrow path.
Kyaaah—
Uuuuh…!!
In the pitch-black darkness, a cave barely wide enough for one person, full of ghostly monsters that could strike from walls or ceiling at any moment, he walked with determination and ambition.
At that sight, both Captain Aeson and Lieutenant Colonel Gaius had already become his devoted followers.
“This time…!”
“We’ll go beyond the Moon, to Mars!!”
“To beyond the solar system!!”
Their eyes blazed with fiery resolve.
They didn’t realize it, but their gaze resembled that of someone living in Guam.
[You are currently heading toward the Temple of the Sun God Yahrhibol.]
[Eliminate the guardians at the entrance of the temple.]
…
[The entire passage is affected by ‘Curse: Stun’.]
[Movement speed is reduced.]
[Cognitive disorientation occurs.]
…
[Activating ‘Hwaangumjeong’ allows rapid identification of obstacles and hazards in the path.]
[You are approaching the myth of ■■dae■.]
…
[This dungeon has intertwined with the myth of ■■dae■, causing parts of the <narrative> to be <adapted>.]
[Find and resolve the cause of the adaptation.]
Lee Hyun opened the path, fully illuminating it with Hwaangumjeong.
A narrow passage with a gentle downward slope, otherwise unremarkable.
Kyaaah—
The problem: ghosts who ambushed travelers without warning using the cramped terrain.
“Why are there so many ghosts? Are we really at the Sun Temple?”
Team leader Kang Yoon-su, assisting Lee Hyun and eliminating ghosts, furrowed his brow.
Earlier, he had smashed the head of a ghost leaping from the wall wielding a sword.
The problem: no matter how strong the magic, the ghosts didn’t truly disappear.
They only scattered with mocking laughter, as if planning to return immediately.
Not only them—other ghosts too. Some rose suddenly from the ceiling, others appeared from far down the passage, only to vanish again.
It was as if they were… watching outsiders.
Most wore desert civilian clothes rather than armor.
Not purely hostile, but occasional ambushes or possessions did occur. Lee Hyun had even saved a teammate from possession moments ago.
“They were probably like this before. Now they’re corrupted for other reasons.”
“Corrupted…?”
“These ghosts—don’t you feel something’s off?”
Lee Hyun pointed to a ghost suddenly appearing from the ceiling.
“Now that you mention it…”
Kang Yoon-su squinted.
“They still have human forms, are hard to kill, and there are too many of them.”
He had no idea how many ghosts they had already faced along the short distance.
Lee Hyun nodded.
“You’re sharp. Correct. All these ghosts are victims who haven’t truly died.”
“…No way?”
Kang Yoon-su stiffened as he recalled deserted cities, abandoned possessions, and vanished populations—like everyone had disappeared.
“Yes. All of these ghosts are residents of the desert city.”
“…!!”
“For some reason, they all died and became bound to this temple.”
Lee Hyun guessed why they became ghosts: the aftermath of experiments at the secret lab. There was no reason to spare witnesses.
[Using Hwaangumjeong, you have successfully revealed some secrets of the <Ancient Desert City>!]
-
The Vanished City
The city of Tadmor was once a thriving oasis devoted to the Sun God, basking under the desert sun year-round. But one day, divine wrath swept through, punishing the city, forcing its inhabitants to flee. -
Missing Citizens
With nowhere to go in the harsh desert, they succumbed to hunger and thirst, returning to the Sun God. -
Underground Temple
The few remaining citizens built an underground temple to pray for the safe return of the dead and for the divine wrath to subside, waiting for resurrection in the buried corpses.
The city had likely been declining due to climate changes. Early explorers’ records mentioned some sightings of natives.
But when Peng Jinghao built his lab here and imprisoned the Uma King, the remaining survivors were wiped out. Then the Uma King appeared, making the land completely barren.
This was the hidden history of the temple—Lee Hyun had uncovered it with Hwaangumjeong.
“Normally, I’d leave them above and explore solo to meet the Uma King… but this time, informing the team is more advantageous.”
Lee Hyun planned to reveal traces of the Sama Society to White Burn, Astra, UN forces, as well as the 13th Legion and Babel Tower.
If it became public that U.C.O. caused chaos in the Near East, led by the Sama Society…
‘This could make them a public enemy for both the international community and even the Axis of Evil.’
Like a martial arts novel: turning Peng Jinghao and the Sama Society into common enemies.
Russia would also feel pressure from the international community for harboring them.
[The narrative of <The Snow Queen> shakes its head at your cunning schemes.]
“Schemes… this is just strategy.”
[The Snow Queen’s narrative says this is the act of unscrupulous rogues.]
[The Snow Queen’s narrative lectures that a ruler must follow the correct royal path, not tyranny.]
[<Sahoon>’s narrative yawns, complaining about the old-fashioned tone.]
[The Snow Queen’s narrative tells an unhatched child to clean their feet.]
[<Sahoon>’s narrative mocks the sound of dentures clattering.]
[The Snow Queen’s narrative is furious at the child’s arrogance.]
[<Sahoon>’s narrative jeers at their age.]
Lee Hyun shook his head at the bickering narratives. Though born as kings, they had walked different paths, clashing constantly.
‘Why did you suddenly speak? I thought you were busy completing the palace.’
[The Snow Queen’s narrative realizes its mistake and glares at the interrupter.]
[It reports that ‘it’ in the underground prison showed a faint reaction.]
‘It?’
Lee Hyun’s mind flashed. A massive crimson serpent, long enough to cover the world.
‘No way… the Bloodfire Serpent?’
[The Snow Queen’s narrative nods gravely.]
‘…!’
The serpent demon trapped deep within the spiritual world—a disaster that once gave the Monjeong-Gun the title of Mountain God.
[The Snow Queen’s narrative explains that it has only shown a weak reaction for now, but will continue to monitor.]
“Got it. Continue surveillance.”
The message quietly disappeared.
‘…Bloodfire Serpent, out of nowhere.’
Lee Hyun narrowed his eyes at the sudden anomaly. Despite maintaining psychic barriers and practicing Hanbing’s skill, this was unexpected.
‘Could it be reacting to the widespread demonic energy?’
Seeing the Uma Beast filling the passage, his eyes widened. The Uma King was surely on par with, if not greater than, the Bloodfire Serpent. Other demons being influenced was not surprising.
‘I’m constantly around other Demon Lords. It’s no wonder the residual thoughts are being stimulated.’
Unexpected variables had arisen. Lee Hyun gritted his teeth.
‘I need to meet the Uma King quickly.’
After what felt like an arduous journey through the passage…
[Entered Boss Room]
“The temple!”
“The hall!”
The narrow anxiety-inducing corridors gave way to a vast open hall.
Marble pillars and vaulted ceilings filled the space. Sacred flames and statues added grandeur.
But the joy was brief.
“…What is this?”
“By civilization’s standards, this isn’t part of the dungeon. It seems like an artificially constructed lab by outsiders…”
“Ughhh!”
“Insane people… who would do this?”
“Did someone get here before us…!?”
Hunters exploring suspicious rooms within the temple were shocked. All kinds of gruesome experiments on humans and monsters had been discovered. Some rooms piled corpses like mountains, stinking horribly.
The Sama Society’s secret lab was revealed.
And…
“Minjung.”
Unlike others, Kim Minjung had lingered nervously in the hall. She turned at Lee Hyun’s call.
“…Yes, senior.”
Her heart raced for no reason.
But Lee Hyun’s gaze was elsewhere.
Behind the altar of the temple. Behind a curtain, another space.
Thump-thump-thump-thump—
Her heartbeat quickened.
The Uma Beast stirred violently.
“Prepare.”
A flash of deep blue lightning sparked from Lee Hyun’s golden eyes.
“We’re going to find your new inheritance now.”
“…!!”
